Stealing the Signifiers

Do not let the title fool you, I will not use this time to debate conceptual theories of signs. Instead I wish to discuss two practical examples of these theories.

Last week a bizarre situation in Germany met with international outrage. The famous sign outside the Aucshwitz concentration camp declaring "Arbeit Macht Frei" (or "Work Sets You Free") was stolen in the middle of the night. This act was branded as atrocious, with some Israeli ministers going so far as to call it an "act of war". Putting aside the ideological concepts behind these acts and reactions it is useful to look at the specific act involved. A group of people scaled a fence and stole a sign. How could this illicit such a furious response? A physical act has threatened an ethical and ideological concept.

A similar question arises at this time every year in relation to Christmas. The use of the word 'Xmas' to talk about this time of year has become a point of contention between religious and secular, materialist and anti-capitalist for years. By taking the word 'Christ' from the signifier, many believe that the season has lost its original religious causes. By changing the name this time becomes less about religion and more about spending and gift-giving. When in a generous mood, many religious people would call this mis-appropriation and when in a more fervent mood, they would call it theft. The simple re-arranging of letters has in this case, threatened an entire religious concept.

In both of these situations the degradation of a signifier has damaged the signified. When we put so much belief and importance on these signifiers they become focal points for the original causes that created them. That makes them very obvious targets for those with contrary agendas or opinions. We would readily admit that these focal points are merely representations that can never fully encompass the originating situations. But we must also realise that the destruction of these focal points can never fully destroy these originating situations either.

If we can understand this as a society our communication will become far more comfortable and more importantly, far more honest.

-The English Student

Social Grotesque II

This week the grotesque was obvious from the international news to the streets.

Chinese etiquette and social niceties came under international scrutiny as a policeman died from alcohol poisoning while negotiating with local business people. Politeness demanded that the policeman equal his companions levels of alcohol consumption and this resulted in his death. It has also become international knowledge that many companies employ people that are greater capable of drinking in these occasions in China. Value it seems, is given to those that can consume the most. This consumption is overt, obvious and disgusting.

The streets of many major cities have been mimicking this pattern in the past week. The 'Christmas Rush' has begun, with thousands flocking to consumer centres. An absurd amount of money is being spent during every opening hour of every opening day, with many shops extending their hours in an effort to encourage the insane flurry of spending. The streets are literally jammed with people and there is no sign of this abating until at least the end of the year. The level of consumption again is overt, obvious and disgusting.

Each of these situations highlights more aspects of this social grotesque. While they may be in an effort to impress and help each other, the luxury of these situations is getting to a sickening level. We are glutting ourselves in the consumerist temples that we have created. It is becoming obvious that this consumption simply cannot be sustained. I have heard the theory that humans are one of the only animals on the planet that will stop eating or drinking when they are full, rather than say, dogs that will keep eating so long as their is food. Perhaps we can resist this urge on a personal level. But we are truly failing on a social level.

Which brings us to the major example of social grotesque this week: the failure of Copenhagen makes our failure all the more inevitable.

-The English Student

Social Grotesque I

Sometimes you just have to be disgusted at our grotesque society.

The recent buzz around the Copenhagen conference on global warming touted this as the time that environmental problems will be solved. Or at least, a coherent and importantly, fair method of approaching a situation would be outlined. Of course, thus far this has been a massive failure and a farce. Should the most influential world leaders have their way developing nations will take more of the burden relative to their carbon output. They will pay more for a world wide problem that they had a smaller hand in causing.

Along with this conference has been an increasingly obvious dialogue related to population sizes. A documentary featuring David Attenborough highlighted the issue very succinctly by highlighting that we currently need one and a half planet earths to maintain the consumption of our increasing world population. Is not this ridiculously over-use of natural resources disgustingly grotesque? Surely we have to directly address this problem of over population as it is becoming a very practical issue.

However, answers to this grotesque problem have been even more grotesque. The previously mentioned documentary discussed the policies of many past governments in their efforts to keep their population down. These range from a limit on the number of children legally allowed by the government, to the forced vivisection of males across the country. Every solution to this problem is naturally sickening. If we cannot find an answer to this problem that is not as vile as its origins then we need to look elsewhere.

Copenhagen is failing because we have not recognised the grotesque society we have created. It is borne out in the environmental problems we face, the solutions we have proposed and the manner in which our world leaders are dealing with it.

-The English Student

Album Review: Them Crooked Vultures

Another year, another super group?

I must admit that I have been following the progress of Them Crooked Vultures since the news first broke of their inception. The combination of Josh Homme, John Paul Jones and Dave Grohl had such vast potential. A list of their combined bands (Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana etc.) reads like a list of the most influential bands spanning the last four decades. Apparently I was not the only one whose musical heart rate increased with the announcement of Them Crooked Vultures. Music fans and critics alike waited with baited breath for the release of the album.

So is the album good and does it live up to the hype? Yes and no. While the three musicians have clearly meshed well it is quite clear that the driving force for the project is Homme, whose tones and trademark harmonies create a very 'Queens-esque' atmosphere. The opening tracks of 'No One Loves Me and Neither Do I" and "Mind Eraser no Chaser" set this tone and drive through incredibly accomplished hooks and song writing. This is continued throughout the album with songs like 'Elephants' and 'Bandoliers' maintaining an exceptional level of production and craft. While Homme may be the leading figure in the project the influence of fellow band members is obvious on songs like 'Reptiles' where Homme pushes well beyond previous ground. Overall, the album sounds amazing and is a real testament to the power of modern rock music.

The second question I posed was in relation to the expectations surrounding this album. A common criticism seems to be the previously mentioned control of the project exercised by Homme. Many people seemed to have expected Grohl to take a more centre position in the band with far more vocal duties than are actually on the album or for Jones to completely overthrow the project with his musical mastery. While these people were certainly disappointed with the end result, it is their own fault. Each of the three musicians in this project expressed how happy they are with the album and the roles that each of them took. I love these musicians and as such, I love listening to what they want to play.

That is why I'm excited to have Them Crooked Vultures in these crooked times.

-The English Student

Forcing Christmas Spirit Down Our Throats

One of the major shopping streets in our city has begun to force Christmas spirit down our throats.

I happen to work on this street at the moment and as such have to walk past the offending area every day. The loud Christmas music blaring from the building is bearable. Even the ridiculously dramatic Christmas advertisements that are shown from adjacent buildings onto the street can be ignored. But the fake snow that is blasting from the roof of the building throughout the street I simply despise.

It tastes disgusting and clings awfully to clothes. More than this, it is a completely hollow attempt to create some sort of a Christmas feeling throughout the city. I previously explained my unease around this season and while I do encourage everyone to enjoy the holiday time I myself still struggle with it. While the lights and decorations are artificial, they are mainly inoffensive. This powdery nonsense is an inescapable reminder of the coming Christmas.

It is artificial and so is the sentiment that the store is trying to create. It almost never snows around Christmas in this area. The weather is far more likely to take that turn in late winter or early spring. So not only is this fake snow an attempt to create an early commercial frenzy of spending, it is one that does not have any real context in this country. The capitalist extremes that are always bubbling under the surface at this time are increasingly overt.

Never has it been more obvious than this artificial, unintelligible gimmick.

-The English Student

Behind the Scenes of the Service Sector

Working in the service sector has shown me two different types of consumer-company relationships.

In my first service related job I saw a very common company attitude. The organisation puts up a front to its costumers and pretends to care about their opinions and lifestyles. In actuality, they do not care. Working behind these apparently benevolent scenes highlights the hollowness of the whole process. Management does not care about the public, it cares about money. Management also does not care about employees, it cares about their ability to increase profits.

My second service related job highlighted a more subtle and altogether more sinister approach. In this case, the company really did seem to care. Behind the altruistic scenes of high customer satisfaction was an effort to create an environment of high employee satisfaction. Profit really did not seem to be the overriding principle of the company. Of course, this cannot be true. On some level, almost entirely unseen, the cold and calculating basis of business lurked in the recesses of the building.

But this taint was never fully embodied by any employee. Granted, the overall manager was more concerned with income than any other person in the organisation but even this person seemed to value profit for its ability to keep his staff employed and to help provide an excellent consumer experience. Maybe someone beyond this manager is to blame. The image of an overseeing tyrant at the base of these companies is a comforting one as it places the blame on an individual person. We could blame this person for greed and theorise that they lost their way in a capitalist system designed to help create an equatable world. I fear that there is a much more harrowing alternative. Organisations like this one seem to have developed traits that are no longer represented by its staff and are completely beyond their control. There is no shrouded master controlling the cogs of the machine.

In actuality, the machine we created is controlling us and in the process, our humanity is being consumed.

-The English Student

A Rejuvenation Project

A part of the city I had written off as obsolete has taken me by surprise.

When deciding on where to place settlements, our ancestors invariably chose places with access to fresh water. The founding of our capital city was of course no exception. The advantage of the river that flows through the city and the history behind it has been detailed by many people. The nature of this transport and economic hub changed with technology and history while remaining centred around the river and port. While the obvious use of the harbour for import and export remained constant a certain dark, foreboding tone fell upon the area. It was a dangerous place.

That is, until the recent rejuvenation projects have come to fruition. I recently walked through this area, not to sight-see, but to get somewhere else. I was determined to travel through the docklands with the greatest of speed in order to avoid the usual dread and danger associated with it. I was truly ignorant of the new atmosphere that has been developed. Wonderfully modern buildings have been completed, with fascinating architecture and glorious glass-fronted façades. Brilliant lights blaze out from these new monuments and bathe the entire area in a warm and clean glow.

The turn around in this area is, for me, truly remarkable. I think the rejuvenation can be summed up by the new bridges that have been erected down at the docklands. There are various pedestrian bridges with wonderful sharp architectural lines that are lit up in fanciful ways. Significantly, these bridges are not retractable and cannot be navigated through by large ships. While these ships would very rarely have come far up the river in the past it is emblematic that this new harbour area is not focused on supporting shipping.

The river mouth has shed its original use and as a result it remains a focal point for the city.

-The English Student

Hollow Statistics

With unemployment hitting a record high percentage it is very easy to become blinded by these statistics.

The number of job losses hitting this country are dilligently reported by the papers and the figures relating to unemployment are frequently changing and always provided. The rate of unemployment benefit has become a subject of much political debate as politicians attempt to curb the massive economic crisis the country faces. But do any of these politicians actually understand the reality behind these statistics?

I faced a relatively short term of unemployment. For approximately 2 months I was without a job and even for that brief period I was hit by the debilitating effects of unemployment. It is extremely difficult to motivate yourself when you have no job. Your self worth plummets and you question your value as a person. Shame sets in and it becomes extremely difficult to face the world. This especially hurts when on public transport, surrounded by working people that have an opportunity to contribute to society. It truly is terrible.

Trying to summarise these emotions with statistics and figures is also terrible. Obviously governments cannot practically review every individual circumstance and must try to gain an overall understanding of a situation in order to make an overall decision. But the vast majority of these politicians have no idea what unemployment is really like. These statistics are meaningful for the person affected by them but are hollow for the people who have the power to affect the situation.

Until politicians find empathy behind statistics there will be a massive rift between them and the unemployed and struggling voters.

-The English Student

A Shackle of Time

I have once again began wearing a wrist watch.

I briefly wore a watch a few years ago but not for a very extended period of time. In fact in retrospect I have owned three or four watches and have never really become someone who wears one at all times. Recently however, I became obliged to find an alternative method from my phone for checking the time. So once again I have taken to wearing a watch and this time it is becoming clear why I do not like them.

For a start, the watch I own is hideous. It is a lump of brown and silver hastily thrown together and wrapped around my wrist. It is also a heavy lump of brown and silver that constantly weighs me down and reminds me of its presence. The third sense that it offends is my sense of hearing. The loud tick of this malevolent device rings out in my ears whenever there is quiet around me.

All of these things seem quite small and petty. But in actuality they are more than mere annoyances. I had no problem checking the time on my phone because my phone was not a dedicated timepiece. The fact that it told the time was a useful application of my phone, not its sole purpose. A watch on the other hand is a constant reminder of time and life slipping away. It is a shackle that imposes human measurements on existence and does not let you escape the inevitable implications of passing time.

I doubt I will ever be able to comfortably wear this shackle.

-The English Student

Saying Goodbye to a Friend

While I expected to say goodbye to this friend soon, I did not expect to say goodbye to her today.

Intermittently since we took her in I had various thoughts of "we're going to have to say good-bye to her" at some stage. She joined us and she would always leave us. At times it would be natural to wonder why would we let ourselves face the tragedy of her inevitable departure by getting to know her in the first place.

But that theory implies that the fifteen years that we were cemented in union were not worth the depression that came from her departure. When I look back and remember any moment in her life I have to smile and laugh at her energy, audacity and charm. Any bad time that we had together and indeed, even this current bereavement is tempered by her supremely happy life. As time passes I know that these good times will fully blast away this malaise and a burning bright memory of her pure soul will remain.

I could try to describe these good memories or try to explain the basis of our relationship. But our friendship was one that was never based on words. There was an understanding between us that could never be summed up by language. I cannot articulate this connection and nor do I want to. For these memories are ours alone and would seem trivial to anyone else.

But I will say this, there was nothing trivial about our relationship. I loved her.

-The English Student

Zombieland: Film Review

Cross-genre films can only be successful if both genres are executed without compromising the core of either. Zombieland is the latest attempt by Ruben Fleischer to combine the horror and comedy genres.

The first question has to be is it successful as a horror film? Ultimately the answer is yes. Zombieland highlights how far technology and make-up artistry have come with the amazingly vivid and highly disgusting zombies that are constantly on display. There are some wonderfully jump inducing moments that had my pulse going and real tension due to the eerie and atmospheric settings. Along with these points of excellence, director Ruben Fleischer ticks the rest of the horror checklist with plenty of violence, gore and chase scenes. As a horror film then, Zombieland excels at times and at the very least works throughout.

The next question is whether this film works as a comedy and crucially, if humour is used in a successful way without negatively affecting the horror atmosphere. Again, the answer to both of these questions has to be yes. Woody Harrelson is utterly hilarious at times, while Jesse Eisenberg shows that he is a talent for the future. There is also something perversely funny in watching Abigail "Little Miss Sunshine" Breslin shooting ravenous zombies with a shotgun. Capping this off with a classic cameo equates to an excellent comedy performance by the entire cast. Trying to create humour from a horror base is extremely difficult. Many directors and film makers have made the mistake of affixing cheap humour to an already created piece. Zombieland however, shows us that when comedy is interwoven with the horror elements to create a plot the result is highly entertaining.

I was shown a trailer for this film a few months ago and could not help but grimace. A basically washed up Woody Harrelson in yet another pathetic attempt at combining horror and comedy made me understandably wary. I was content with relying on the brilliant "Shaun of the Dead" for this kind of film. It was in fact luck that resulted in me actually seeing Zombieland. But my preconceived notions were ridiculously off base. As these wonderfully crafted zombies attacked the easily loveable cast, it was hard not to imagine them as representations of recent Hollywood trends. The 'undead' franchises and over-used stock characterisations and plot elements of most Hollywood films are assaulting a core of artists like Ruben Fleischer that are attempting to defend the medium of film.

We should absolutely support this desperate last stand before they are over-run by the vicious mediocrity of Hollywood.

-The English Student

Can We Have Our Nobel Prize Now?

Barack Obama? Really?!

I was completely shocked yesterday to wake up and find that U.S. President Barack Obama had been awarded the Nobel Prize for peace. From 205 nominees, the Nobel Committee decided that this international celebrity was deserving of this prize, despite the fact that he was nominated eleven days after taking office and is just coming off the back of a complete failure in the international community after his attempt to bring the Olympics to his home of Chicago. This president has not even achieved what he intended in his short term domestically, let alone in foreign policy.

But wait, lets ignore the escalating war in Afghanistan and the inequitable steps taken in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict for a moment and give the Nobel Committee some credit. Perhaps we should look at the reason cited for awarding the peace prize to Barack Obama. "The Committee has attached special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons." When we consider that Obama has really done very little to work for a world without nuclear weapons, it is clear that this award is for intentions. Giving a peace prize for the intentions of peace and for the potential of peace is simply ridiculous. Surely the Nobel Committee should be more concerned with tangible efforts that have really helped create peace in the world, not hopeful promises. They don't award Olympic medals for people who intend to excel and they should not for what was once the most illustrious award one could receive.

There is an even worse implication from this award. What straight thinking, empathetic and decent person would not wish for a world without nuclear weapons? Even political "hawks" would happily get rid of these abominations if it could be assured that they were completely eradicated from every country. In giving this award for the vision of Barack Obama, the Nobel Committee has implied that this vision of peace is lacking in everyone else. Apparently, Obama's hope for world peace is more pure and wholesome than ours and so should be awarded. In effect, the Nobel Committee has derided the rest of humanity that had a vision of world peace long before Obama appeared.

The Nobel Committee needs to award everyone a peace prize or fall into disrepute. This is the only way to give the rest of us our robbed dignity back.

-The English Student

Latent Agnosia

Agnosia refers to neurological conditions that cause a person to lose perception or understanding. I believe that we can use the term 'Latent Agnosia' to describe a more widespread pattern of misunderstanding.

As a neurological condition, agnosia has its basis in specific human brains that are affected by the disorder. 'Latent Agnosia' affects us all. In my current situation I frequently feel empty and hollow. I have lost some things in the last few months that have left me bereft of the passion or drive to really do anything. Indeed, I do not have the desire to dig myself out of this hole. But why do I feel this way? My understanding is based on two things. First, the past figures prominently in my perception of myself. When elements of this past depart I am left with an emptiness. Second, the future bears down heavily on this perception. I frequently wonder if things will ever be fulfilling. In a previous post I touched on the problems that emerge when we base our existence too much in the past or in the future. In short, our mental understanding of a situation is warped by the many lenses we use to view it. My current mental understanding is warped by an unhealthy fixation with the past and the future. While I may be the same person I always was, I feel like I am in a much more difficult situation than before. I worry about my circumstances despite the fact that there is no objective basis for this fear. Obviously I am not the only one that undergoes these patterns. Society is full of people that do not understand their own situation. Risk takers often do not recognise risks, people prone to panic do not recognise how unnecessary panic is, addicts do not recognise the severity of their situation while office workers do not recognise the banality of theirs. These are simple examples that underline a common foundation: we get so wrapped up in our own world that we lose all understanding of the true situations we face.

There is also a social level to these patterns. Countless economic experts, politicians and ordinary people have identified our current economic realities as apocalyptic. The sky certainly does seem to be falling around us as banks fold and the prosperity of the past disappears. These seem to be uncharted waters we are facing, with unprecedented trials and consequences. But there is a precedent. There have been at least ten 'market crashes' since the eighties and many more financial crises. While this current economic recession may not be on the same scale as these crashes, it absolutely follows the same patterns. The Great Depression too offers an archetype for widespread economic difficulty. One would think that it also offered a warning of potential crises based on our economic systems. The Great Depression was heralded by failures in the economic system that we had created and the exact same thing is happening now.If we take the apparent fragility of these systems as identified by the frequent crashing of the market and the vast depths that an economic crisis such as The Great Depression can reach it is a certainty that we would face these patterns again. Yet here we are, in free fall and surprised by it. Countless other social issues undergo the same pattern. It seems that we are constantly on the verge of another world war as international tension grows and subsides in many different regions. Old world orders are replaced by new ones and many politicians offer their people change and progress that will free them from social crises. But what is changing and where is the progress? These social crises are seen as unique or new when in fact they are just expressions of past issues. We are blinded by a nostalgic view of past societies that we believe were free of these problems. We are also blinded by the belief that the future will bring us freedom from these problems. Our collective mental understanding of human society is warped by these fixations.

Our inability to recognise our own personal circumstances and our inability as a society to recognise our social circumstances exemplifies 'Latent Agnosia'. The thought processes that we use and the importance we place on certain elements of life equates to a misunderstanding of objective reality. We frequently misunderstand our circumstances and our world. I call this agnosia 'latent' because it is potentially present in all elements of our lives. So the question must be asked, can we escape this 'Latent Agnosia' and find some objective understanding of reality? While we attempt to create 'progress' in our lives or in society this is not possible. 'Progress' is an illusory term that shows a misunderstanding of the past and the future. So long as we focus on 'progress' we will remain trapped behind the warping lenses of the past and the future. Perhaps it is more useful to attempt to understand the underlying issues we face as individuals and as members of society. This strategy means that we should not look for 'progress' and instead should attempt to understand the connection our current situation has with other epochs. We should not attempt to defeat our 'Latent Agnosia', we should try to understand it and in this way approach some kind of objective understanding of reality.

After one hundred posts I could naturally ask myself what progress have I made. The conclusion I must arrive at is that while I have not contributed to any idea of 'progress', I have at least contributed to my own understanding.

-The English Student

Observations of a Sick Person

I have an excellent track record in fending off sickness.

A blemish on this record appeared at the start of this week. After fighting off flu and sickness many times over the past few months my body finally succumbed and shut down for several days. Being sick is unusual for me and as such, I made some unusual observations while beset by this virus. When I was becoming sick I took it as an opportunity to have some down time, to try to relax and to take things easy. Of course, this is a nice point of view to have until you actually become sick and remember what it's like.

Memory was certainly one of the things that took a strange turn while I was sick. The different aromas and tastes of medicines reminded me of all the times I was sick as a child. Even just the feeling of being sick and bedridden brought back many memories of similar patterns in my life. While helping my long term memory, this sickness severely played havoc with my short term memory. Days blurred into a continuous stream, conversation became difficult and I quickly forgot the context of my life pre-sickness.

It is this life that stood out most in my illness induced observations. As mentioned before, this flu has been threatening me for months. There was a very good reason (several in fact) that I had managed to defeat it up to this point. I was mentally strong. When these situations reversed I became very susceptible to the sickness. The absence of my previous mental strength has been made poignant by this sickness.

Which brings me to my final sickly observation: some things are not as easily healed as the flu.

-The English Student

District 9: Film Review

At last, a Hollywood sci-fi film that proves that a huge budget isn't necessary for good story telling.

District 9 is a debut film from Neill Blomkamp that deals with the results of an unexpected first contact with alien life forms. The film instantly plays off the standard science fiction choice between "friendly, helpful alien life" and "aggressive, warmongering alien life". These aliens arrive and offer no contact whatsoever. The story continues by detailing the relationship between alien and humanity along with internal human concerns. This is balanced by the personal trials of Wikus van der Merwe (Sharlto Copley) who is caught amongst these struggles.

As mentioned in a previous post, much of science fiction seems to suffer from the problem of relying on science fiction details in lieu of competent story telling. It is very easy to distract a reader or film viewer with flashy imagery or pseudo scientific jargon. But this rarely works and the underlying plot, characterisation or language problems always remain. District 9 seems to have gotten the balance just right by engaging the audience with appealing characters and a strong plot through the medium of forward and unique science fiction.

I found the acting to be excellent, the style of cinematography highly appealing and the overall production sublime. But the most impressive element of this film relates back to the method of story telling. Refreshingly, Bloomkamp has joined the group of science fiction story tellers that do not feel the need to over-simplify or explain a situation. Plenty of questions are left unanswered by this film and not only is that perfectly ok, it's a great benefit to the film. Why spend huge swathes of time explaining a situation that does not need explanation?

Good writers allow the audience or readers to use their imagination to enhance the story and District 9 is a very good example of this pattern.

-The English Student

The Sound of the City

We use all our senses to experience the city, not just our vision.

Any place offers audio sensation as well as visual ones. Our capital city is the perfect example of how sound can affect our experience of a place. Depending on what route we take through the city we can see different things and also hear different things. Certain bus routes have older buses. These buses will have a slightly different engine pitch. In certain areas different types of birds or animals are more likely to congregate and diffuse their noise through the air. Even different types of people can be found that speak with different tones or accents.

Of course we are often inclined to ignore this music of the city. We prattle on to someone about unimportant subjects. Or more frequently, we put in our headphones and drift off into our own personal store of music. In short, we do anything to fill what we perceive as the absence of noise when travelling through the city. We need professional musicians to provide us with a soundtrack instead.

But people, buses, trains, even bands and musicians on the street combine to form a soundtrack for the city. There is a different score every time we enter the capital, with different notes contained within it. This score is played by different instruments too. While we may be more inclined to force our own music onto the scene we should allow the music of the city to flow through us and enhance our perception of the city.

When we use more of our senses we gain more information and get closer to understanding our capital city.

-The English Student

Let's Save Vinyl!

Choices for music buyers relate to content and form.

New technology means new progress in audio formats. Cassettes replaced vinyl, compact discs replaced cassettes, mp3's have replaced CD's and increasingly clear formats such as .FLAC are pushing the boundaries of electronic formats. But while these progressions are exciting, they are not necessarily always an improvement in how we experience music. I recently added to my meagre vinyl collection with a new album that was released in this format, along with CD and mp3. There are two very specific reasons that I decided on this particular format.

I may have a reputation as something of an audiophile and as such, I do find the quality of vinyl better than electronic formats. Without going into too much detail, vinyl has a greater ability to record and reproduce analog audio. This equates to better sounding drums and bass along with treble quality. While it is true that the format is more delicate and can have slight hissing sounds at lower volumes or with older vinyl, at louder volumes I believe the positive difference is noticeable and worth the drawbacks.

I previously used the phrase "experience music" and I know that this seems a little unusual. But it highlights the many facets involved with listening to music. Even if we do not hang on to the vinyl format due to the marginal improvements in audio quality, the experience of vinyl is valuable. People seem content with buying songs from iTunes but I find the process somewhat hollow. The packaging, care and tactile pleasure of physical formats is missing. Being able to touch and handle vinyl and even the simple observable process of needle on record create a specific music experience that is lost in electronic formats. While it seems like a small point, being able to use your sense of touch and vision, along with hearing allows us to connect closer to music.

So go on, spend a bit more money and let's save vinyl!

-The English Student

The Horizons of our City

The horizons of our city are not just cosmetic.

They towered over the city. It was almost impossible to turn in any direction without seeing one of the metallic armatures in operation at various points throughout the area. The cranes took the horizon for themselves and began to raise the city to their own height. While they were ugly and offensive to the eye, they represented a booming economy that had been forced to expand skywards. These cranes showed us the potential of our city, where we could go, where we stood and what our limitations were.

While these cranes are less prevalent now, below them the streets of the city remain. The veins and arteries that give it life and in turn, give us life. These too exemplify the importance of height and depth within a city. From the centre of the city moving outwards streets are marked with the designations of 'lower' and 'upper'. The streets that are closest to the centre gain the suffix 'lower', while the streets further from the centre are given the suffix 'upper'. The centre then, is the 'lowest' point of the city. It is the foundation of the entire urban area and is an unshakable constant and clean slate. These streets of varying 'heights' also show us the potential of our city, where we could go, where we stood and what our limitations are.

We have seen shifting fortunes within the city and with this comes a shift in the way we work and live in the urban area. With these changes, the once numerous cranes have diminished and as such, caused much fear to those that recognised what they represented. Many felt that as the cranes disappeared, so did the potential of the city. But this is not true. This potential is intrinsically represented in the very layout of our city. The 'height' of our streets makes this obvious.

We should not fear the loss of the cranes. Instead, we should recognise that potential is still, and always has been, latent in the foundations of the city.

-The English Student

A Break in the Phonological Loop

It has become apparent quite recently that my memory is simply not what it used to be.

I very easily forget simple facts and details or information that I previously had a good grasp on. This is no more obvious than when I'm in conversation with my friends and want to specifically mention a certain person or event of public life. Of course, we are all susceptible to these kinds of slips. However, they are becoming more prevalent for me and worryingly have moved from forgetting trivial facts to forgetting important details.

I believe that there are many reasons for this lapse in memory. While I will only focus on one such reason here it is not through a perverse lack of memory that I omit the others! A friend basically pinpointed the main reason for my dipping memory recently. With easy access to the internet and the vast stores of information it contains, my memory no longer needs to do much work. It starts with simple things like trying to remember "what film that person was in" and of course, there is no harm in this. In fact, the internet has made us more educated in this regard. But it is at the expense of the faculties we need for more important memory work.

My mind has become lazy and dependent on technology. I now have something resembling an external artificial memory bank that I plug myself into for information retrieval. This cannot continue. I do not wish parts of my life to be a blank or opportunities to be missed due to my over reliance on the internet. So I will do memory exercises and force myself to dredge through the now hazy recesses of my mind when I need to recall an important fact or issue.

With this strategy I hope that my mind will regain it's former strength and I will regain my former humanity.

-The English Student

Hurt vs. Hurt

Song covers are frequently an insult to the original, but there is at least one exception.

I would generally prescribe to the idea that song covers will always be inferior to the original for very particular reasons. A cover song intrinsically suffers from inevitable comparisons to the song that inspired it. If a cover is too similar to the original it is un-creative and if it is too far from the original it loses its foundation. Additionally, a covering artist can never re-kindle the emotion or re-stage the situation that inspired the artistic impression. In short, you simply cannot be creative when covering.

There is only one example that I know of that an refute this theory. Trent Reznor's "Hurt" featured on "The Downward Spiral" and still stands as one of the most moving songs in the Nine Inch Nails back catalogue. This song was famously covered by the late Johnny Cash and as such, fans from each side have been strenuously debating about which version is 'better'. Close listening to both songs highlights many differences in tone, musical arrangement and some slight lyrical changes. These contrasts however, belie the appropriateness of the song for both artists.

The Nine Inch Nails version of this song builds quietly towards a final crashing finale. Reznor's final declaration creates a bitter-sweet moment of despair and resignation to this despair. The song has a consistently dark tone that underlines the consistent depression experienced by the writer. Rather than a conclusion, this song ends as an prelude to future artistic expression. Cash's version has a contrasting dynamic. This song builds and falls between verse and chorus, highlighting Cash's rise and fall throughout his life. His slow increase in popularity, eventual meteoric rise, drug addiction and fall are all encompassed in the arrangement of "Hurt". A conclusion is evident in this version and the resignation of the final line becomes acceptance for Cash. Amazingly, both of these versions work equally well for each artist, highlighting a singular connection between them.

Reznor put it best himself when he stated that the two are "different, but every bit as pure."

-The English Student

A Smaller World with Greater Distance

Terms like "The Global Village" get thrown around by IT experts these days but I must wonder if the world is becoming a smaller place.

In some respects the closing of distances in the world is very obvious. The internet has allowed people to make contact with others from every country in the world and at any time desired. Mobile phones have also allowed easy communication between every corner of the world. This coupled with the rise of "Web 2.0" and other media like Twitter equate to a very high level of access to information and other people.

But one thing that the IT revolution has not been able to replicate is the real nuances of human communication. These online methods can only really take second place next to actual contact. Of course, web cameras and microphones can simulate these interactions but no innovation has managed to bridge the physical gap caused by distance and time.

In fact, the tools of the "Global Village" actually increase the gap between people. When engaged in some kind of electronic communication with someone it is very easy to view the medium in contrast to physical contact. These media will always be compared to this physical contact and yet will never surpass it. Much like the advent of the telephone or fax, it is natural to assume that new methods of electronic communication will decrease the gap between people. While they do make certain forms of communication possible and certainly have huge advantages there is simply no replacement for physical contact with someone.

The absence of this contact has become more obvious and thus increased the distance between people.

-The English Student

The Real Danger from Swine Flu

Panic in the streets of everywhere as the lowly pig threatens to derail all of human society.

Usually, I try to stay away from the discussion of 'hot' media topics, especially when I believe that they do not warrant extensive coverage. That said, I can no longer ignore the mass hysteria that is building in relation to the Swine Flu virus. It is impossible to pick up a newspaper and avoid the constant announcements that this virus is increasing in prevalence and deadliness throughout the world. Of course, journalists should provide knowledge on the virus. They should not, however, try to terrify us with the same knowledge.

For a moment, let's just look at the empirical facts relating to 'Swine Flu'. This is a form of influenza that hit the world hard in the 1918 pandemic. Symptoms include coughing, headaches, upset stomachs and fever. In addition to this, the very young and elderly are most at risk, along with the young adult generation that has had very little exposure to influenza. So basically what we're dealing with is the flu. It can be deadly, it can kill and it can be treated. It affects those most likely to be affected by influenza and acts in a similar manner.

I am not trying to downplay a potentially deadly pandemic but I do believe that we are letting fear do more damage than the virus is physically capable of. We must do all that we can to prevent the spread of the virus and limit the consequences of it. At the same time we cannot allow ourselves to be paralysed from living our lives. If we can learn anything from these worldwide pandemics it's that our existence on this planet is precarious and cannot be spent submerged in terror.

We should live cautiously, but live nevertheless.

-The English Student

The Fluctuating Fortunes of the City

A simple walk through our capital city underlines the fragile nature of financial systems.

The sun shines and reflects through the river that gives life to the city. On bright and hopeful days the river glitters with light and creates a glorious path throughout the urban area. It is as if thousands of coins of gold and silver have floated up from the riverbed to bathe the citizens in wealth. But the clouds prevent this and at times the river subsides to little more than a trickle. While we may become mesmerised by the glowing sight of our wealth we must also recognise that it can dry up without warning.

The main bank of this city shows similar patterns. It is a dated building made of decrepit concrete and depressing steel. This place really belongs to a bygone time, an era when this style of architecture represented the future, not the past. We look to this place as a symbol for economic security and all we can see is the instability we faced years ago. More than this, the actual shape of the building underlines a disturbing economic reality. With it's thin base and very wide top, citizens can easily recognise the precarious foundations that our entire economy is based on.

Are these observations really tangible? Can economics really be connected to apparently frivolous details? Economic systems themselves are completely intangible and only gain worth when we choose to invest time and thought into them. I have invested time and thought into these observations and they therefore have just as much worth as the economic systems that they represent.

The fortunes of the city fluctuate and these fluctuations are written throughout the city for all the citizens to see.

-The English Student

Rising and Underlying Tension III

Different areas, similar patterns.

But this pattern of tension seems limited to humanity. Of course, the animal world experiences tension, but this is almost inevitably released through some form of instant aggression. There are no past grudges or future fears for these animals, their concern is the now and survival in the moment. So why is it that humanity must alone experience these forms of political and personal tension?

The answer to that question is intrinsically connected to the question "Why did society develop in the first place?". Both questions are just as complex and unclear. But we can be clear that this incessant living in the past and future is a social issue. From advertisements to the very language we use, we constantly regret past mistakes and 'look forward' to future strife. We cannot escape this any more than we can escape the fact that humans are social beings.

Like other animals, we are instinctively inclined to vent our aggression and tension when it arises. Social laws inhibit this and punish those that cannot control their tension. Instead, 'acceptable' methods of release like wars or passive aggression are allowed in the social system. Society may have developed naturally, but it fails to master the natural tendencies of humanity. In short, we are animal creatures that have adopted social patterns.

For this reason, explosions of tension in personal and political life are not likely, they are inevitable.

-The English Student

Rising and Underlying Tension II

Politics is the macro expression of a micro pattern.

Rising and underlying tension is just as prevalent within every human being. When we have an issue that has not been solved this problem does not just go away. We may feel like we are dealing with a problem and working through things when in actuality we are repressing the issue. This means that tension festers and multiplies on a subconscious level. It builds and builds until a person becomes more tense than human and fails to escape the cycle. We frequently live in the past and therefore frequently face apparently dormant tension.

Living in the future is equally problematic. When we look too far ahead it is easy to worry and anticipate issues. Often, an innocuous problem will be predicted very early and we increase its importance by dwelling on it. Fear and anticipation are a poignant mix that culminate in an increase of tension. We frequently live far into the future and therefore we frequently create unnecessary tension.

Both of these elements of personal tension leak into social relationships. If we cannot individually deal with the past in a healthy manner or resist the urge to look too far ahead then we are very likely to create similar issues with friends and family. A fight or misunderstanding occurs in the past and we fail to deal with it properly or a problem is foreseen and becomes more of an issue than it should be. This is all due to our personal inclinations and a failure to live in the moment individually or collectively. Rising and underlying tension builds until people and relationships explode.

So again I must wonder, is it better that we allow this 'explosion' to happen in the moment or risk building greater tension in the future? Must we wage personal wars to solve our problems?

-The English Student

Rising and Underlying Tension I

World politics is constantly driven by tension.

A quick look at any newspaper will give the most casual follower of world events an insight into the current tension gripping the international community. Riots in Iran continue and have widened the gap between the Iranian government and the UK and US. North Korea continues to defy United Nations sanctions. The Honduras crisis continues, the African Union has pulled out of the International Criminal Court and the Israeli and Palestinian conflict continues. In addition to this, tension and fighting remains a constant in Georgia, Iraq and Afghanistan. So the obvious question is, are we heading for another world war?

These types of patterns have occurred many times before. World wide tension came to a head in the early twentieth century with two world wars and countless smaller conflicts. What was the result of these wars? Utter destruction and desolation is an obvious answer but if we look at the modern state of these countries another result is apparent. There is no whisper of tension remaining between former world war enemies in Europe. France and Germany have become strong allies and the UK continues to engage with the mainland. These wars were awful, but they were cathartic.

Compare this situation to the Cold War of the late twentieth century. There was a huge level of tension between these countries with a constant threat of war hanging over the heads of every citizen across the world. However, war between Russia and America never broke out and tension between these countries has never been fully dissipated. The "cult of the leader" remains strong in both countries and this is often founded on governments defining themselves in contrast to the old enemy.

Make no mistake, I am a committed pacifist but it seems that rising and underlying tension very rarely is solved by anything except war.

-The English Student

Death of a King

He may not have invented the genre, but he certainly mastered it.

Michael Jackson was without doubt the greatest Pop musician of all time. These sentiments are being thrown around an awful lot right now and it's easy to assume that they are media driven exaggerations. However, along with these claims come the opportunity for everyone to individually appraise all of Jackson's work. Even a cursory glance at his back catalogue highlights a sublime collection of music. I really implore people to go back and listen to Jackson's music and recognise that these claims are far from exaggeration. He was a genius.

You can look at any of his individual albums and identify greatness. I believe you can even do this with individual songs. For me, Jackson's high point was Smooth Criminal. This song was one of the first that I ever truly loved and listened to religiously. The arrangement, lyrics and overall sound are simply timeless. Along with that, the full length video for the song still stands as one of the best ever made. This song and video epitomise what was great about Jackson: he had an amazing ear wrapped in an iconic flourish and style.

So was he the greatest Pop musician of all time? The greatest musical artist of all time? The inventor of the modern music video? Does it matter? The bottom line is that Micheal Jackson made a connection with millions of people all over the world. He transcended gender, age, race and religion and connected them all with a simple love of music. While we can attach any title we want to him, we must never forget the personal connection that we each had when we heard our favourite Jackson song.

He may not have owned a kingdom, but when he created this connection throughout the world he was certainly a king.

-The English Student

Transformers: Film Review

A new Transformers film arrives and the critic's claws come out once again. Are they justified?

A quick glance at Rotten Tomatoes will give anyone a clear picture of how Micheal Bay's latest film has been received. It seems like many people are naturally inclined to slate a film with his name attached. The memory of the first Transformers attempt along with his other big budget films and the (quite hilarious) parody in South Park force people to think bad equals bad. Let's face it, this perspective is not without a basis. Micheal Bay seems to have a serious problem with some aspects of film making. Most noticeably, the scripts and actors used in Bay films have been frequently and correctly identified as either sub-par, or mind numbingly terrible.

Unfortunately, the new Transformer is only marginally better than this usual terrible standard. Many of the characters seem to have grown into their roles but this is no substitute for being bad actors. In addition to this, the script is weak and at times painful to endure. Even if this script was acted well, the lack of any real character development or coherent plot is an inescapable weakness. To make matters worse, the film is simply too long to make these flaws excusable.

But for all of these problems, I would still recommend this film. If you go to see a Transformer film hoping to see amazing acting and a complex plot then you have willingly wasted your money. If however, you are looking for an exciting and visually stunning film then you are in for a treat. There was a point while watching Transformers when I realised that this was the best looking film I had ever seen. The graphics are simply phenomenal and that is enough for me to recommend that people see this in its full glory on the big screen.

Transformers is big, dumb and silly. But the one thing it does right, it does better than any film ever made - so go see it.

-The English Student

When the Right is Wrong

Any political view should be balanced, but I just cannot bring myself to respect the extreme right that is emerging in Europe.

In many countries outside Europe 'socialism' is a bad word. I personally believe that this is an inappropriate reaction to a system that has never been fully implemented anywhere in the world. Fascism and the extreme right have occupied the parallel position in Europe. Since the horrors of World War II Europeans have felt nervous about any developing far right movement. Unlike the position of socialism, I believe that this attitude to the extreme right is truly justified. Fascism was implemented, and it was atrocious.

Despite this natural abhorrence for any hint at fascism, increasingly extreme groups have made gains in the recent European Parliament elections. While the results have not destabilised the ruling European People's Party (who themselves are right orientated), the loss of seats for the main opposition party, the Party of European Socialists marks a movement away from the left. By itself, this is not surprising or worrying. After all, it is entirely healthy in a democracy to have shifts between opposition and government, left and right. However, a closer look at some of the parties making gains in this election highlights a much more unsettling development.

Most notably, the rise of the British National Party and the Dutch Freedom Party should terrify all equality supporting citizens. The BNP are synonymous with acts of racism and demands for border closure. Their party guidelines explicitly exclude people not born in the United Kingdom, regardless of citizen status. The Dutch Freedom Party shows equally disturbing patterns with their racially charged policies and anti-Islam film production. To have members of these parties affecting European Policy is a pattern that I hope will not be sustained in coming years.

The extreme right is wrong and nothing should induce us to give a mandate to these fascists.

-The English Student

The Fate of the Publishing Industry

Is print on the way out?

While taking courses centred entirely around literature it has become natural to wonder if literature will continue to develop in the printed form. There has been an exponential growth in electronic texts in recent years. Websites like Project Gutenberg have created a vast database of old texts that are past copyright. This collection is free for all to access and of a good quality. New texts are also becoming increasingly electronic and are offered at a low price for readers. With this new, open and cheap system it really seems like print has become outdated.

But price and availability are not the only factors we should take into consideration. There are many advantages to the printed form. Many people prefer the tactile pleasure of holding a book while reading. In addition to this, books have always been passed around and traded in their physical form and this is cheapened if someone can just download the same text. Finally, the tradition of publication is in danger and its historical significance should not simply be brushed aside for modern convenience.

However, electronic media do have one distinct advantage over print. In the same way that the Internet has wrested much power away from music record companies, the electronic text movement will create more freedom within literature. Publishing houses can no longer demand exacting themes or issues or manipulate readers into buying what they publish. Through electronic texts and blogging, every person who types can become a writer and gain an audience. Of course, this means that in generations to come a 'canon' of literature may not exist and the overall quality of literature will be questioned. But we should not limit the amount of literature out there to prevent this, we should just become better readers.

The publishing industry has its place and we should embrace it and we must also embrace the freedom offered by the electronic alternative.

-The English Student

Collecting Qualifications

I firmly believe that our generation will become one of the most educated in recent history.

As people finish their under-graduate degrees they face an inhospitable working environment. Whether justified or not, employers are less likely to take chances and strive to cut costs on the labour front. The prospect of trying to earn a living in this atmosphere is truly terrifying to many students and they are increasingly choosing to take further studies. Applications for MA programmes will grow exponentially as a result.

But is this a positive trend? While padding a C.V. with qualifications is of course a good thing it comes at the expense of real experience. Businesses will naturally look to minimise the risks inherent in employing applicants. Experience in a field allows an employer to accurately assess these risks. This is certainly different than the generally abstract skills and theoretical knowledge we gain at college. In short, while qualifications are essential it is the ability of a person to apply this knowledge to everyday life that gives value to an employee.

However, these negative effects are only temporary. The current "economic climate" is a transient situation that is already recovering in many places. When we all survive this situation our qualifications will very quickly become experience. This will benefit us both individually and collectively as a high-end labour force will place us at the fore of the increasingly lucrative research and technology industry. Ultimately, this temporary set back will have a positive effect on every aspect of our lives.

We may just be collecting qualifications now, but soon these qualifications will mark us as one of the most educated work forces this country has ever seen.

-The English Student

Conjectures on Game Development

With the release of browser versions of classics like Doom and Hexen at Newgrounds, it is the perfect opportunity to assess the progress of game design.

The most obvious improvement on these games is the graphics. The incoming DirectX 10 graphics cards promise to render incredibly detailed textures at excellent speeds. This is leaps and bounds ahead of the Doom Engine that can only create a semblance of three dimensionality. However, when playing these older games it is easy to wonder if these graphical improvements are conducive to a more enjoyable game. Hexen combines eerie (if simple) sound with tight level construction in order to create a very atmospheric gaming experience. This is a marked difference from many contemporary FPS games such as F.E.A.R. that have relied more heavily on graphical brilliance than competent level construction.

The second most obvious change is based in the style of game that was demanded in the days of Wolfenstein and Doom. Hexen is a very linear game that forces the player down a certain path with very little chance for deviation or player imagination. This is somewhat alleviated by the secret chambers all of these games used to encourage exploration. However, contemporary games such as the Grand Theft Auto series create a far more open-ended "sandbox" experience. While these approaches are different, neither is necessarily better than the other. Linear games allow developers to set tone and create more challenging environments and non-linear games allow the player to make more meaningful decisions and connections to characters. Combinations of these styles have been attempted with varying success and perhaps the most appealing games are the ones that encourage the player to "choose" the linear path designed by the developer. 

At the base of both of these conjectures is the importance of video game heritage. The PC has proven itself the most adaptable and enduring gaming platform. With advances in technology, changes in game design are inevitable. But we must not forget why the PC became such an appealing gaming medium. For games like Doom to be successful, developers like id Software had to create brilliant maps and game mechanics and while that is no longer a necessity these precepts would help many struggling contemporary FPS companies.

But at least we can now go back and play these classics, even if developers have forgotten the lessons they taught.

-The English Student

21st Century Breakdown: Album Review

Green Day's long awaited eight album has been released to much fanfare. But is the hype justified?

With American Idiot, Green Day became a household institution with sales and popularity soaring. Their new found political drive became the voice of an angry American generation and endeavoured to awaken the people from an apathetic slumber. Unfortunately, with such lofty ambitions the music of American Idiot became more of a backdrop to politics and not the focal point of the album. I feared that Green Day would continue down this road and place more emphasis on political messages rather than creative forms of expression.

It is with this trepidation that I listened to Green Day's newest offering, 21st Century Breakdown. The album is divided into three different acts and the more expensive edition is bundled with artistic impressions of each act and song. While this approach may seem pretentious or contrived it is indicative of the adjusted focus of the band. Green Day have used these forms along with varying song length, sound and structure to experiment with methods of sharing their message. While the political theme is still evident, it is more expertly weaved through the actual music and as such, both are equally important to the album.

21st Century Breakdown is therefore less politically divisive and more musically creative. This is borne out in many of the songs on the album.  "Before the Lobotomy" and the title track both showcase an array of musical arrangements and a wide range of versatility. Tracks like "Know Your Enemy" are more overtly political and stand as weaker (but more popular with militant American youths) points on the album. At least these songs are shorter and just as musically simple as their message. 

These tracks really bring us to the crux of 21st Century Breakdown: the political messages are there if you want them, but Green Day have managed to make the music the focal point of this new album and I very much hope they continue in this manner.

-The English Student

The Foundations of Literature

Students of literature often overlook the foundations of contemporary works: Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey.

These epic poems are frequently identified as the core of all subsequent literature. Homer (if indeed he did exist) created a formulaic method of literary expression and transliterated stories from the prevalent oral tradition. While these poems can be viewed as the first form of literature, the stories told and the manner in which they are told are far from primitive.

These poems directly deal with literary framework and issues of vocality. The Iliad contains a prolonged flashback and a very subtle illumination of the previous ten years of the Trojan war. In a similar vein, The Odyssey is written from the perspective of both Telemachus and Odysseus and contains a circular narration regarding Odysseus' 'nostos'.

The themes and patterns of these poems are also still evident in contemporary literature. Including specific references to the vents of The Iliad and The Odyssey, the creation of the return motif and issues of military leadership, honour and spirituality have their basis in Homer. These themes have directly and indirectly influenced countless writers throughout the history of literature.

To understand the vast forests of literature it is necessary to trace their roots in the beautifully complex work of Homer.

-The English Student

In Praise of The Creative Assembly

As The Creative Assembly release an extensive patch for their latest game we should pay homage to this excellent game developer.

The "Total War" series is one of the greatest (if not the greatest) strategy game series ever conceived. The games combine large scale, turn-based campaign strategy with fast paced real time battles - and do so perfectly. From the earliest iteration, "Shogun:Total War", it was clear that The Creative Assembly had hit on a wonderful formula for breathing new life into the stale strategy genre. From the humble beginnings of "Shogun", The Creative Assembly have gone from strength to strength with two medieval games, the highly popular Rome-based effort and countless expansions. Besides the obvious engine similarities between these games a common thread of excellent attention to detail and innovative growth is evident.

With the release of "Empire: Total War", The Creative Assembly have taken another ambitious step. The sheer scope of this effort is phenomenal, with huge tracts of the globe now theatres of war. With this fresh approach comes a fresh attitude to the fan base. The "Total War" community has been pampered with daily updates from developers on the official forums, a huge dedication to bug fixes and tangible displays of progress regarding game updates. This is especially laudable considering the fickle nature of many (but certainly not all) community members that berate The Creative Assembly for game problems.

Of course, these problems do exist. The Creative Assembly was forced to release "Empire: Total War" long before they had wished to. When Sega denied the application for an extension, a flawed game was inevitably released. Very serious problems are also evident with "Stormrise", a new game from the developer outside the "Total War" series. While the pressure of publishers and the quality of "Stormrise" are reasons to worry, I cannot question the skill and dedication of The Creative Assembly.

If they can maintain their honest and real connection to the gamer I have no doubt that The Creative Assembly will continue to make a fantastic contribution to the gaming community.

-The English Student

Thoughts on "Objectivist Lamp"

As the object was the point of interest for Carl Rakosi, so "Objectivist Lamp" is my point of interest this week.

On a first reading this poem seems exceptionally simple. Rakosi devotes twelve lines to the description of an ivory lamp with a "batik lamp shade" (L. 10-11) that rests on top. Significantly, this description is not made in comparative or contrasting terms. While the lamp is described as if it has hands and a breast this is owing to the fact that it is a female figurine. Rakosi does not attempt to invest the lamp with any definition outside direct description.

The structure of this poem is in line with these thematic issues. The inter-locking lines of the poem are a physical representation of the "hand crossed" (L. 5) figurine that the lamp is styled after. In the same way that the ivory woman holds the illuminating light bulb, the poem holds the illuminating title "Objectivist Lamp". The poet uses the structure of the poem to highlight the importance of the singular item that is described throughout.

Each of these issues underline the now useless division of form and content in the modernist and post-modernist period. While we can identify different formal and thematic techniques, their results are inextricably linked and impossible to separate. Although many have questioned the worth of such objectivism as art, it is hard to conceive of a poem that more closely captures every aspect of its object.

By adapting Rakosi's direct approach, literary criticism could create a more coherent and useful accompaniment to literature.

-The English Student

A Commuting Story

Marc sat in the usual seat on the usual bus home at the usual time in the evening.

After a long day he was not in the mood to read. He put his fifty-nine year old copy of The Great Gatsby to one side and began staring out of the window. The low dulcet tones of the voice in his ears coupled with the monotonous rumbling of the bus lulled him towards a sleep-like state. The buildings of the city blurred together and then began fading into the outer-urban landscape. Somewhere in the transfer Marc's eyes closed.

They rolled back behind the lids, covering Marc's vision in a dull sepia tone. A soothing sight for a soothed mind. Then suddenly darkness. Utter and complete darkness as if the sun had been destroyed and perpetual black had fallen.  This abrupt change caused a tremor of shock to run through Marc's mind. He had no position, no thoughts, no context and no existence in this sudden darkness. Marc quickly opened his eyes (out of shock more than fear) and the world reformed around him. The tunnel rolled back past the top of the bus and completely out of view. 

It was as if his mind had broken and restarted itself. He could describe the sight outside the window; the concrete barriers and sterile grasslands. But they now meant something else. The words may have remained, but their essence was different. Marc saw the bridge and put his book back into his bag. He pressed the stop button and got off the bus at the usual stop at the usual time.

But nothing was usual ever again.

-The English Student

Becoming Raskolnikov

Dostoevsky presents us with one of the most troubled and warped characters in literature: Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov.

This former student wanders the streets of St. Petersbourg, wallowing in his self-imposed depression and inhaling the noxious elements of the city. In an attempt to gain the capital he needs to avoid working in his future he robs and kills two women. The majority of the novel is then devoted to Rodyo's internal struggle with his conscience and external struggle with the police. But throughout the text it is disturbingly easy to empathise with this character.

Rodyo is in search of a small amount of capital that will allow him to live without the constraints of work. With this capital he would likely return to his studies and pursue intellectual enquiry in his areas of interest. Members of contemporary society often feel the same way. Every person who plays the lottery, gambles in any way or commits a crime for monetary gain hopes for the one big payout that will give them freedom. If I could study and write without monetary fear I would be a much happier person.

But Rodyo suffers from a serious character defect that points to the folly of this strategy. His arrogance and feeling of self-importance allows Rodyo to destroy other lives if it benefits his own. While we all want economic freedom we would be obligated to forcefully take the capital of others to get it. The one huge payout that is always on the horizon is not worth the destruction of others who only seek the same thing.

It is useful to empathise with Raskolnikov; but we must strive not to become him.

-The English Student

Aeon Flux: Chronophasia

"The waking comes soon, like a storm."

Aeon and Trevor search for a virus that creates human happiness in a Breen jungle-facility. Trevor discusses the origins of the virus and claims that it is an attempt to regain a past human attribute. This trait gave us a universal connection to every other member of society but was apparently lost through evolution. But we never actually lost this connection, we have just forgotten its origins.

The efforts of the Breen scientists in recreating this attribute imitates real social creations. Religion is one such example. Religion hinges on our inherent need to connect to other people and elements of existence. Other examples of these patterns include the connections fostered by science, law and education. Clearly we are attempting to represent our universal inclinations in social structures.

But should we build towards this universality or move back to our natural state? Neither option is feasible. To try to recreate a natural tendency through unnatural means is folly. We also must face the reality that we have become inherently social creature and cannot retreat from that. Instead, we should recognise that this universal connection has never left us. Science, law and all other human endeavours are attempts to foster this connection.

So long as we connect with one, we connect with all.

-The English Student

Oh! The Angst!

Cynicism has become an important part of student life.

This past week has seen my pessimism reach previously un-fathomed depths. Along with the usual bitching and moaning relating to the college/country/planet authorities, the smaller things have come within the reticule of my depressing rifle. The aggression of certain breeds of bird, the use of the word "supposebly" and the sogginess of tomatoes have all been the subject of bitter, never-ending tirades.

Oddly enough, however, I no longer view this pessimism as a bad thing. With previous little time left in college, it is the right of the student to verbally tear to shreds every single aspect of existence. Nothing should be left along from our scathing and snide remarks that undermine the very laws of existence. We are thus united under a banner of negation.

For after all, this college era is most certainly ending. We will not have the luxury of complaint for much longer as we must finally engage with the system rather than deriding it from afar. Inevitably, we must become the people we despise. But if we can hold on to the smallest part of our disquiet, or at least the memory of it, then perhaps we can give future generations less to complain about.

If not, then at least they can enjoy their small rebellion as we have enjoyed ours!

-The English Student

Deconstruction, not Destruction

Although it is an old theory, the idea of 'deconstruction' as posited by Jacques Derrida and others still has worth today.

'Deconstructionism' deals with the idea that there are no overall theories that can properly encapsulate existence. This school of thought came as a reaction to theorists who believed that literary texts are examples of unifying constructs that create understanding. These theories were pushed further with hypotheses that claimed that language itself was without any universal meaning and is a hollow construction that belies true existence.

These theories have often been derided for being elitist and abstract. On the surface, it is very easy to believe methods of deconstruction to be out of touch with common literary practice and common human existence. After all, by claiming that there is no universality in relation to literary texts, one can be seen to ignore the common tropes and form that are latent in countless instance of literature. It seems that we should take a slightly less extreme approach to criticism if we are going to engage with the theories of Derrida.

Indeed, it is important to make the distinction between 'deconstruction' and 'destruction'. We must not completely ignore all aspects of a text, but instead we should reduce them down to their basic form. The value of 'deconstruction' is that it attempts to make room for contrasting theories while looking for an underlying trope common to them all. Instead of forcing writers and texts together, sparing use of 'deconstructionist' approaches will allow a critic to identify the foundations of these texts rather than create a hollow amalgamation of the issues they deal with.

In this way, 'deconstruction' should be identified as another useful band in the spectrum of literary criticism.

-The English Student

Steinbeck and Orwell: Approaching an understanding of Capitalism

Orwell offers a solution to a major problem identified in Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath.

The Joad family travel throughout the southern United States in a bid to find employment and a new home after the destruction of their farm. Steinbeck counterpoints the personal issues of the family with the general plight of the citizens of the country. The ordinary labour workers are becoming victims to the increasingly powerful leaders of industry that have emerged in the economy. These capitalists have gained so much power that it makes more economical sense to let crops die than to pay people to harvest them. Steinbeck indicates that this capital will fall into the hands of fewer and fewer people as this process continues.

But any solution he offers is undermined by a general impotence on the part of the labour movement. Instead, we have to look to other writers to find potential alleviations to this struggle. In Nineteen-Eighty Four we find a society that is constantly in war. The constant need to supply products for the war effort has created stable employment for millions and more importantly, has prevented a revolution by the working class. War can bring capital from outside a country back into it and this process can allow wealth to trickle down through the main capitalists to the individual workers.

Of course, this is a very bleak and distressing conclusion but the solidity of it cannot be denied. Even Marx can be adopted to this theory when his strategy of working within systems rather than revolutionising them is taken into account. However, this system will inevitably lead to strife and pain as increasing levels of violence (or at least destruction of products) would be necessary to sustain it. Is there no way of improving the system?

Can we no longer control the capitalist leviathan that we have created?

-The English Student

Franz Ferdinand: Concert Review

At last, the brilliantly original Franz Ferdinand have returned to the touring circuit.

If they have faced recent criticism for an apparent separation from their previous inspiration, the Scottish four piece certainly did not show a drop in quality as they took over our capital city for the night. This is most noticeable in their iconic on-stage style the band moves as a tight and intense unit that really communicates their love for music to the crowd. While any verbal interaction is kept to a minimum, passion oozes from the pores of every person on stage.

Front man Alex Kapranos obviously takes a lot of attention and considering his perpetual vocal improvement this is certainly well-deserved. However, the drumming skill of Paul Thomson completely stole the show. The power and ingenuity of Thomson is borne out in every single song as he confidently breathes life into new tunes and past classics alike. It is hard to overstate the impression that this Keith Moon/Phil Selway/Animal hybrid makes and how important he is in creating the bands unique live sound.

The consistency of Thomson and the band in general is important when the changing sound of the band is considered. While their latest album, "Tonight: Franz Ferdinand" marks a departure from earlier work, the cohesion of the band makes a set of old and new virtually seamless. This culminates in a brilliantly innovative and well-paced concert. The highlight of this set would have to be the energetic "Outsiders", but this is akin to choosing a diamond from a collection of other gemstones.

The mark of a great band is one that sounds better in person than on record; point in case is the newly revived and truly fresh Franz Ferdinand.

-The English Student

A Tremor of Contact

In The Metropolis and Modern Life, Georg Simmel compares the small towns which were based on “feelings and emotional relationships” and the “rational manner” of the metropolis.

Theorists like Simmel were obsessed with identifying the differences between rural and city life. These realms were divided by issues of subjectivity and objectivity, capital and money-economy. But the most striking and relevant trope in these writings relates to personal relationships. A conception of these relationships based in city life came to my mind recently during my commute.

I accidentally placed my hand upon the hand of another traveller while exiting a bus. This slight incident left a pronounced mark on my thoughts for the entire day. A prevailing tremor ran through my body and mind after this glancing contact. But why should such an event seem so important to me? We may be surrounded by thousands of people in the urban landscape but we truly are separated from them. We have replaced the need for physical space based in the rural with a mental division based in the urban.

My shock was based on the apparent contradiction between the densely populated city and our isolated position within it. Initially, this disconnection seems like an undesirable change in human interaction. But in actuality, the reserve we now keep for physical action makes contact more important. The use of action and even words has become more concentrated and a concise and this heightens the illustriousness of communication. We should not begrudge the change of human contact with the movement from the rural to the urban.

Instead, we should be grateful for the opportunity to create greater meaning with every word, look and touch.

-The English Student

Psycho: Almost 50 Years Later

With this years Oscars on the horizon we should take this opportunity to look back on past greats.

Christmas seems to come earlier each year, games and albums are pirated at a higher pace and the college year flies by at increasingly high speeds. With this in mind, I have no problem jumping the gun on everyone and offering a fifty year retrospective of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho forty-nine years after it was released. Many people have made wide reaching statements about the film but I believe that it is summed up by its own subtitle: "A new and altogether different screen excitement."

A modern audience may find Psycho to be quite dated in places. The special effects are hardly special anymore and the relatively censored murder scenes bring a smile to the viewer who is used to the 'ultra-violence' of contemporary horror. But if you are turned off by these aspects then you have missed the point. The ability of Hitchcock to use simple imagery to create iconic and memorable scenes is sublime. With its simple black and white cinematography, exquisite music and believable character development Psycho achieves what films with ten times it budget consistently fail at: genuine tension.

More than this, Hitchcock has created a psycho-analytical thriller before the genre even existed. We are drawn into the minds of every character in the film and become both a victim on the murderer and an accomplice. The many levels of the psyche that this film deals with is quite staggering and the sociological issues of equality and isolation are still very relevant today. Hitchcock really did set the groundwork for the psychological thriller and as such shares some of the credit for the truly great films we have seen from that genre. He does not, however, share some of the guilt for the truly awful ones we have endured from that genre. 

If your thriller is underwhelming then you need to re-watch the forty-nine year old Psycho, for it is a masterclass on the art of cinema.

-The English Student

In Search of an Opposition

People are very dissatisfied with our government recently, but I am far more dissatisfied with our opposition.

This week the national newspapers rang out an alarm across the political corridors of the city. The government has apparently become deeply unpopular and lost many percentage points through informal polling. This is especially worrying for the government now as they face numerous votes and electoral challenges in the coming months. In fact, many people believe this government to be practically finished.

But what alternative is there? The main opposition party has comparatively low numbers in similar polls and many would reject a government lead by the party's figurehead. It really would seem that the people of this country do not know what they want in a government. People could easily link this to a growing level of political apathy, but not all parties lost so badly in these polls.

The most quiet, inoffensive and downright cowardly party has gained a marked boost in popularity. I do not wish to engage in a tirade against this party but it is deeply worrying that the electorate deems them a good alternative without seeing any real definition of policy. The current government have set the agenda, this party simply opposes it without any self-declaration of intent. People are entitled to deride the government for their shortcomings but this certainly should not result in success for an untested and vague political party.

We need strong leaders and representation in this country but without a strong and well-defined opposition we will not get them.

-The English Student

A Fragile Infrastructure

With even the slightest change in weather, this country shuts down.

After unusual weather conditions, public transport and many other amenities were dramatically cut down. My commute time was trebled and many people simply stayed away from work to avoid this inconvenience. What is striking about this whole situation is the relative mildness of the conditions. There was no hurricane or heatwave to cause this, but instead a momentary change that most countries would hardly notice.

The fragile infrastructure of this country has never been more apparent. Why were we so un-prepared to deal with this mild change? The answer lies in the foundations of this infrastructure. Like many countries, we have felt the shame of being 'backward' and thus strove to adopt some of the most modern city and country based technology. But without a natural progression towards these advances they are foolishly sought and foolishly implemented.

Further than this, such a fragile infrastructure is indicative of a fragile national mindset. The innate conservatism of this country is latent in our inability to deal with the slightest change. Our rigid systems whether physical, mental or social should be more pliant in a fluctuating world.

But we are a rigid people and so we run the risk breaking at every challenging turn.

-The English Student

Only in Dreams

Recently, issues relating to the two main varieties of dreams have become pertinent to me.

The first types are terrible ones. Your subconcsious takes hold and pours out truly unctious bile. The most base and hideous horrors infiltrate your mind. There is nothing to control these evils and nowhere to hide from them. These dreams are a vivid and sharp reminder of the innate but often hidden terrors of reality.

But there are of course more desirable dreams. The subconcsious can easily become the stage for some of our most coveted hopes and dreams. No goal is unattainable, no person unlovable and no pleasure too sweet. The joy of life is not filtered through any social or physical boundaries and as such, is in its purest form.

Usually, dreams will be somewhere within the spectrum between these two polar opposites. Dreams can be firmly rooted to one end of the scale or can drift between the nice and nasty. However, there seems to be one commonality to these dreams: upon waking, we feel terrible. We are either disgusted by the depravity just witnessed, or bitterly disappointed by the transience of the pleasure felt. In this way, these experiences of blurred time shift, mixed emotions and apparently random imagery can often be more real than the waking world. Wicked or wonderful, anything is possible.

"And so it seems, Only in dreams."

-The English Student.

The European Rugby Cup Ablaze

Sport is often not just about physical or mental prowess.

The European Rugby Cup and Challenge Cup are prime examples of the vast areas that sport can deal with. While some competitions focus on individual effort and exemplify the drive and ambition of the human spirit, these rugby competitions deal with something else entirely: tribalism.

There is of course latent elements of tribal behaviour in modern life. In fact, many sociologists theorise that tribalism is often encouraged within society in order to create a common national feeling. In the past, these tropes have often taken violent and destructive forms that have created death and permanent division.

However, rugby seems to deal with this without bloodshed, Every weekend provincial teams across many European countries face each other to test their skill and strength. The fanaticism of the spectators and the phenomenal intensity shown by the players has to be seen on a common level with past tribal behaviour. These matches are not just about rugby, they are about the Hundred Years War, the Battle of Flodden Field and general sovereignty. Every try scored is an advantage over an ancient rival and a banner of national pride. More than this, when the battle is over equal respect is shown to the victor and the vanquished with on pitch guards of honour and dignified spectators.

Clearly, if something like rugby can alleviate these tendencies towards tribalism we should embrace such a healthy release.

-The English Student