ARTS - Edvard Munch, CINEMA - Corpse Bride, MUSIC - Neo-folk LITERATURE - Orange prize IN B:art iBeaver SIMON SCHAMA The Blink Interview ______________ ________p.15 11/10/05 lssue^24 The newspaper of the LSESU Climate of fear? Sam Jones Executive Editor_ Concerns last week escalated over the threat of a government clampdown on university campuses across the UK. An investigation by The Beaver has uncovered allegations of MIS agents operating on campus as well as potential links between LSE Students' Union (SU) societies and organisations in the government's controversial 'anti-extremist' hit list. Islamic students at the LSE are meanwhile living in what has been termed a "climate of fear", that has many worrying for their right to freedom of speech and caused some students to revoke their membership of the LSE SU Islamic Society (ISOC). Despite an increase in membership numbers, several students asked to be taken off ISOC's mailing list after fearing that they might end up under surveillance. Tim Murphy, a deputy director of the School, told the Beaver that "There is no way of knowing what could happen... anything could come out of the Home Office." In a statement issued by Ruth Kelly, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, to Universities UK, of which LSE is a member, commented that "Freedom of speech does not mean tolerance of unacceptable behaviour. I believe that higher education institutes need to identify and confront unacceptable behaviour on their premises and within their community." Media and government alarmism threatens to exacerbate Islamophobia amid claims of extremism on campus Singled out - could students on Murphy firmly rebuked rumors that there would be ¦ any sort of clampdown, on campus however, stressing the need for the campus to | come together to defeat such alarmism. "We are not ^ in the business of trying to monitor societies. It's so wrong to try and do that ", he said, adding "Above all, ' we wanted to make it clear to ISOC and other societies that we don't want a panic. "Of course it is impor- Houghton Street be targeted? Image created by Sid Kamath MUSLIM STUDENTS LIVING IN 'CLIMATE OF FEAR' ON LSE CAMPUS. MIS OPERATING AT LSE? REPORT LINKS 'EXTREMIST' GROUPS TO LSESU SOCIETIES BBC CONDUCTING UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATIONS tant to work with the government on immigration issues and terrorism, but it is essential that we [the LSE] retain our autonomy and independence and don't become an instrument of government policies which may or may not prove to be sensible." LSE SU General Secretary Rishi Madlani commented,"Our campus has been and always will be united in opposing terror. We will not allow unfounded allegations to divide our diverse student community-" However, MIS agents have also reputedly been operating around the LSE campus, using the Strand Palace Hotel as a recruiting point for informants. More worrying are reports that MIS investigations are already connecting the suspected head of the terrorist cell responsi- ble for the 7 July bombings, Mohammed Khan, with Haroon Rashid Aswat, a senior aide to Abu Hamza, alleged former LSE student and according to the Sunday Times newspaper, 'mastermind' of the July atrocities. Hizb ut-Tahrir, an Islamist organisation singled out by the contentious Glees report, and the subject of intense scrutiny from the government, has also been alleged to have links with groups on the LSE campus., though many have been swift to discredit them. LSE SU Education and Welfare Officer, Sian Errington told The Beaver, "anyone who has read the Glees report knows that it is anecdotal and totally unsubstantiated, based on the prejudices of its author. It has been widely dismissed by the education sector. The Metropolitan police and London mayor have an alternative approach to fighting terror, and that is to engage with the Muslim community. The scapegoating of an entire community and the current witch hunt helps no-one." Though non violent, Hizb ut-Tahrir is widely suspected to be outlawed by the government in the near future under new anti-terror legislation. Among its goals, the organisation calls for the reestablishment of the Kalifate under which "Muslims appoint a Khaleefah on the condition that he conveys Islam as a message to the world through da'wah and Continued, page 3 Orange Award Steve Gummer puts on his glad rags and finds out which of the last ten Orange Prize winners will be crovraed the 'Best of the Best' in the Beaver's exclusive coverage of the Orange awards last week. Pages 26-27 The best dressed folk in town! In preparation for the AU Welcome Party, the sports team offer themselves as fancy dress inspiration. Yes! Now you can cut out and play with Ed & Jen. Unsuitable for children under the age of 18. Yumnation Alexa Sharpies reminds us that entrepreneurship isn't all fun and games in Blink Business, taking a walk on the quiet side and looking at local entrepreneurs in action. 02 11/10/05 iBeaver Lie, Cheat, and Steal to Win ""^AKCih* CAHU? —. ; K n MAChARLAm general secretary | cmf^£>frsnc £TI£S rt - 5 ^ ^ a-.i" 1'' ."#¦ -i-l 1-v ¦- If you are too, apply to KPMG If yousre fgafly bright, we .exp^t you'll be looking for a career that reaijy stretches you, that §ives you the opportunity to achieve greater things. Join KPMG in the UK and you'll be challenged from the start. We are one of the leading firms of busiraess advisers and right now we're lookfig for brightest g-Muaies to pm ys. We have 23 offices across ithe UK i&m Zt) .d'ffef<3ok)wort Wasserstoin is tho oank of l>«6drKy Bank AG. a ot ASanz. DresiJncr Keinwoft Wassorstein Urrit(Ki, 20. Fenc^uch Stroel. London, EC3P 306. Auttxxioad and regi^od by the Hnoncit^ Autfwity. -H iBeaver 11/10/05 15 Revolutionaries revisionists & recklessness Simon Schama interviewed SCHAMA A HISrORV SHii'AIN rin BiRiTiSfrwAes f ^ V,„. i 1 /"~\ i V I Ai Executive Editor Sam Jones talks to Britain's best-known historian about his latest project. History sure ain't what it used to be, and apparently historians aren't either. Simon Schama is a multi-millionaire. And also, by profession, a historian. Few others lay claim to the same venn. Perhaps it's superficial to lead with such an obtuse observation -but Schama has never resented his popularity, and if anything, relishes it far more than his critics would want. "History was bom outside the university," he tells me, speaking affably and with typical Schama-esque panache. It isn't an unreasonable assertion to say that Schama has become something of a celebrity -frequently appearing on televised debates and invariably referred to as a touchstone of suave academic sentiment in medja circles. But Schama is far from being a tjfpical academic. Charismatic, awkward and compelling in equal measure, Schama too was bom outside the university. "Get a life" he tells the critics who derided A History of Britain as populist. His history, in fact all history, he tells me, is personal; "Originally I had wanted to give A History of Britain the subtitle 'a personal journey' - though maybe that would have been a little too cheesy for the BBC." Note, dear reader, 'A' history of Britain - the definitive is absent. Schama recounts huge opposition to A History of Britain from within the BBC when it was conceived. Many regarded it as an anachronistic project in an age of fly-on-the-wall documentary making. TV history was fast being relegated to abstruse digital airwaves watched only by A-level teachers and military obscurantists. "There was a huge hunger for A History of Britain. History should be for the people," he says. This seems to be a running theme of Schama's and it's not just meant as a didactic rebuttal of his critics. For Schama, good history communicates with people. Quoting Forster verbatim he tells me, "The historian must have some conception of how men who are not historians behave. Otherwise he will move in a world of the dead." Narrative history - well written, nuanced and above all, stylistically engaging is Schama's metier. As he is keen to point out to his critics, he's not in bad company either - "Herodotus wasn't mindless," he jokes. The importance of Schama's narrative is in making the past speak to the present. "Writing narrative history isn't easy either. Academics seem to be under the impression 'narrative history is just writing a story' - Ok buster, just you try it." Wearing his trademark Costello glasses and with a rather ' Schama is far from being a typical aca-demic - charismatic. jawkwaj[d and compelling in equal meas-ure, Schama too, v^as born outside the university. "Get a life" he tells the critics who derided A History of Britain as _populist.' frenetic inability to stand still ("Sit still Schama," he recalls his French teacher regularly yelling at him in school) Schama certainly commands a disarming presence oft screen as much as on.: What Schama lacks in the acer- ^ bic bitterness of Starkey (a former LSE lecturer and perhaps, if we were trading historical Shakespearean trump cards, a bitter Richard III to Schama's Henry VII) he makes up in his dynamism and affability. Schama's latest book. Rough Crossings is his latest controversial revision of his-1 torical mythology. Its contention - timed perhaps, as he hopes, to "deeply wound the self-congratulatory streak in contemporary American politics" - is that the American Revolution of 1776 had little to do with freedom or liberty. "The rhetoric of freedom versus slavery never had anything to do with blacks - it only referred to whites. That's why I find the idea of Liebeskind's 'Freedom Tower,' standing at 1776 feet high (designed to commemorate the Revolution) so nauseous. "Hell could not have, vomited forth a more diabolical scheme" quotes Schama, this time from , the memoirs , of a Southern Statesman, and referring to the Revolution itself, rather than the Freedom Tower. The Revolution, contends Schama, was conceived for the protection and perpetration of servitude than the emancipation of the civic soul. "Freedom and liberty aren't exactly free for all in modem America either. Look at New Orleans, where the poor and the black have been left behind to drown." Schama has a somewhat bipolar relationship with America, his adopted home. He is a professor of History at Columbia University in New York and a former art critic for The New Yorker. But there is a definite animosity between Schama and contemporary American culture. Schama likes to cause a stir. Citizens, his volume on the French Revolution was received applause and disgust in equal measure by d e m i c world. "My left wing friends were a little horrified at my 'betrayal' of 1789," he tells me. "I didn't mean to be a party pooper though. I was just trying to do 1 did n't rineg n to be g party pooper though, I was just trying to do something original and fresh. If I'd wanted to o something uncontro-versial I would have writ-ten about Queen Victgrig^ something original and fresh. If I'd wanted to do something uncontroversial I would have written about Queen Victoria." Revisionism? The critics certainly think so. Rough Looking historical? Schama muses mid-lec ture at the LSE. Crossings is set to stir up quite a storm with its release in America later this month. Republican moralists will certainly be easily tripped up by the book's deliberate challenge to their current hegemony in American academic life. Citizens certainly irritated people. Both were highly original approaches which challenged the political and historical orthodoxy. Schama does seem to bait his critics - perhaps because he knows full well that their obtuse questions will be bom more out of reactionary prejudgement than academic rigor. Narrative is indeed a game. Schama is no apologist though and is quick to condemn the British in equal measure. The story of Rough Crossings is not a nationalistic one at all. Rather, it is anecdotal - histoiy as lived by individuals, rather than as implied by statistics. His letture is peppered with asides ("God -digression is eating digression, but hey - this is history! Herodotus wasn't so pure with his stmcture either!") and a significant amount of time is dedicated to the stoiy of the African slaves who were transported to Sierra Leone by the British from Canada in order to establish a free black town. "It was the first place in history, as far as I am aware, to give women the democratic vote" he exclaims. Local genealogy writ large? Fuck off! This isn't just obscure footnote to 3the histoiy of the limeys, this is history," he tells his detractors. So revisionism? "Well, you may have hit the nail on the head," he laughs. 'But I think revisionism implies a reckless way of searching for truth. I don't think I'm reckless." Certainly not reckless then, but definitely provocative. 16 11/10/05 iBeaver .: Business The road to Yumnation Vivek Kumar outside his shop on Sicilian Avenue PhGtograph: Sid Kamath Blink Editor Alexa Sharpies scratches beneath the glossy veneer of entrepreneurialism On his way to school one day, Vivek Kakkar passed by the opening of a new Pizza Hut. Vivek was inspired. Nearly three years ago, Vivek was still working his nine-to-five job as a software developer. Life was comfortable, but the idea of an Asian fast food store had been with him since the day he took that shortcut to school. Meet the creator and founder ofYumnation, an Indian inspired and health conscious sandwich bar that opened this summer up the road from the LSE. "It's a huge risk leaving your job, leaving everything behind. I was on the verge of buying a house, was thinking of settling down, and didn't know if I could risk that." However, time was running out. "It was just a matter of biting the bullet. I guess it was that which prompted me to leave everything and go do it." A third of Britons think about setting up their own com- ' Being new to catering, this former IT professional at one of the world's largest banks spent three months behind the sandwich counter with the 16 year olds at Pret A Manger' pany, but four in 10 never make it past the daydreams. Earlier this year, the annual European Cities Monitor named London the best European city in which to run a business. But actually starting up a business is another matter. The Small Business Council found that London has the worst three-year business survival rate in the country. Taking the plunge entails the biggest risks one might ever take, and the journey is a long and arduous one. "I left my job in mid-2003 and -I thought that after three or four months I would be up and trading. I was rather naive because it does take a lot longer than that...and everything was very, very difficult." First, there was the issue of experience. Being new to catering, this former IT professional at one of the world's largest banks spent three months behind the sandwich counter with 16 year-olds at Pret A Manager. "They were quite surprised as to why I insisted I wanted to be a sandwich maker," he says. "But after about three months I'd leamt the ropes, the health and safety aspects, hygiene, and everything to do with suppliers." Next came the issue of finance and red tape, long thought to be one of the greatest bridles on British entrepreneur-ship. Vivek very much agreed. "Small businesses are not actively supported in the UK. Banks are not interested in supporting entrepreneurs and startups," he claims. "They have start-up campaigns and I was even offering to put in 50 percent of the required amount, but they're not interested if they sense any risk whatsoever." "I tried various banks, and produced a brilliant business plan. In the end, I was hugely frustrated because they said, 'the business plan is great, the idea is brilliant but we don't feel you have enough experience. I said entrepreneurs don't tend to have much experience. I found it to be a bit of a farce...It was very, very difficult to try and find money. In the end, it has to come from private resources, which is a shame." Arguably though, beyond all the practical barriers, the most challenging was the struggle to see Yumnation try to survive its first few weeks. "The most difficult part was opening up on the first day, after many, many months, only to make £6.95. Since then, I've lost about one and a half stone and four inches off my waist because of the stress. I'd consider that one of the lowest points. Even a couple weeks after that it was very hard, simply because it wasn't making any money and I hadn't had a proper paycheque for ages." However, in the aftermath of low points, the highs are gradually rolling in with the greatest one being that in the past couple of weeks Yumnation has started breaking even. "We're not making a living by any means, but we're not having to put anything in." Other crowning moments have included, "when customers say how good our food is, or how it's a great idea, and then they bring their friends. Anything positive is a definite high point." Things have started looking so much more positive that, "within a year we'd like to be rolling out franchises of Yumnation on a small scale in London...We hope that a lot of 'The most difficult part was opening up on the first day after many, many months, only to moke £6.75. Since then I've lost about one and a half stone and four inches off my waist because of the stress' people will know about it through effective marketing, which so far has yet to happen, and by employing a few more people." Vivek describes the tumultuous journey as a learning process, entrepreneurial world aside. "It's very easy for people to say it's a terrible idea, and you have to stay away from people like that. If you believe in an idea, you h'ave to carry it forward, have faith, and work very hard at it," he pauses before continuing, "very, very hard." Vivek also warns that, "business plans are great in theory, and useless in reality. In practice, they make absolutely no sense. They make you think about what's involved, but it's impossible for people to predict the future." "If you ask a person for his honest opinion, people are very subjective. We all come from different walks of life. If you ask 50 people, most of them probably tell you how great your idea is after they give it a try," he says. "Come D-Day though, there was no one at our gates." Vivek's final words of advice,. to budding entrepreneurs or not, are that, "if you really want to do something, go do it. Since I've decided to do this, I haven't regretted any of it. At the end of the day, if you really want to do something, you'll do it well, and people will appreciate that." "Not everyone can be the prettiest, the richest or the strongest. We aspire to be those things, and that's good. As long as we aspire, the world will be a better place." iBeaver: Bart 11/10/05 17 Microfilm fmf§ mi mn¥&§ €il ilm m mm Living with Risk is the latest photo-exhibition to be shown in the Atrium of the Old Building. The exhibition focuses on the key areas of risk which we are facing in today's world: migration, HIV/AIDS, terrorism, climate change, losing one's home and international institutions. B:Literature editor Rothna Begum is joined by Blink editor Steve Gummer at the Orange Award. Not only did they both attend the award but B:Literature contains reviews of the short listed books. Elsewhere, film editor Natalie Vassilouthis relives her childhood by seeing Tim Burton's newest little treat. The Corpse Bride. Turn to B:Film to see why the Land of the Dead doesn't need to compete with Halloweentown. See BrMusic to have all your ¦¦¦1 Ea i X < r-. ¦. y; J*. questions on Neo-folk answered. Do you know what Joanna Newsome has a fondness for? Can you tell your Devendra Banhart from your Sufjan Stevens? Can you define neo-folk from traditional folk? If not, turn to B:Music now. C"' v; The Editor's Week Tuesday 11 October Robert Fisk The Independent's famous Middle East correspondent will be talking about his book The Great War for Civilisation. As a man who has met Osama Bin Laden three times, has lived in the Middle East for nearly thirty years and is the holder of the largest number of awards for British and International journalism, Fisk is the man to listen to when it comes to the Middle East and it's future. At:12.45pm,Bookmarks Bookshop, Bloomsbury Street Price: £3 with NUS Tube: Tottenham Court Road Madhur Jaffrev Climbing the Mango Trees is the latest book fusing cuisine and memories from India's mother of cuisine and actress. She will be talking about her new book and answering questions. At: 6.30pm, Foyles Bookshop, Charing Cross Road Price: £4 with NUS Tube: Tottenham Court Road Eels (with strings) One of the most interesting bands of our generation as much for there ever-changing music as the often bleak circumstances their songs were bom from. Billed as the 'Eels with strings' and held at the most gorgeous of classical venues, expect this to be a veiy special night indeed. At: Royal Albert Hall T^be: South Kensington Friday 14 October Nitin Sawhnev Mercury Music Prize winner and Asian musician Nitin Sawnhey is back with his original brand of dance crossed with traditional Indian Music. This is a rare chance to see the man, especially at such an intimate venue. Get your tickets now! At: Koko (formerly Camden palace) Tube: Momington Crescent Omid Dialili Also known as the fat Iranian funny man who starred in The Mummy and that Britney Spears video (the one with her entourage where she almost drowns...). Djalili is one of the most exciting comedians in the UK right now and well worth seeing. He will also be playing at the same venue on the 15th and 16th October. ¦ At: UCL Bloomsbuiy Theatre Price: from £15 Tube: Euston / Russell Square Saturday 15 October The Priscillas These ladies play super fun 1950s/60s style pop n' roll about zombies and are the secret love children of the Ramones and the Shangri-Las. They are also the reason to why I wear silly sunglasses, calf length boots and want a bee-hive hair-do. Go see them, dance, enjoy, and be con- verted. At: Rough Trade Covent Garden, Neal'sYard Price: Free Tube: Covent Garden Monday 17 October Garbage Shirley Manson is the first being I ever fell in love with. With a voice spilling sex and death in equal measure over the darkest music courtesy of three of our generation's most important of rock producers, Garbage make very special music indeed. At: Hammersmith Apollo Tube: Hammersmith Last Ctiance The Philanthropist Simon Russell Beale starts as the man who is either way too nice, or just scared of people. A critically acclaimed staging of the original by Christopher Hampton. Ends Saturday 15 October At: Donmar Warehouse Price: from £12 Tube: Covent Garden Book Now Brad Mehldau Trio Jazz paino at it's most sophisticated and brilliant. The Beaver's former Managing Editor, Blink Editor, and all round jazz fan Matthew Sinclair says: "As one of the finer jazz pianists going he manages to seamlessly combine Nick Drake, Radiohead and the Gershwins into sets that remind us that jazz was always about subverting whatever was popular". At: February 13 2006 The Barbican Price: from £15 Tube: Barbican 'y * r - ¦ ' » » 18 11/10/05 iBeaver: Bart Neo- I Folk defined: ? ? PQ Busting The place where obscure and ! confusing genres have the tid j lifted on their pot of secrets. ; This week... Neo-folk. So its fust a load of old men with beards and sandals then? Well undoubtedly both beards : and sandals have tendencies to; crop up, but it would be an undue stereotype. There's even some women involved... Women eh? Ummm yes. Joanna Nevsrsorae would probably be the pick of the bunch. She possesses a truly unique voice. Unique but divisive, as it can occasionally veer on the side of warbling. She also has a fondness for a massive.,. ' Aliem? Harp. A massive harp! Actually,: speaking of massive harps, there's the twin sisters of Coco -Bosie who sound like miniature Ella Mtzgeralds complete with hiiman beatboxes. Quite a mixed btmch then, these neo-folkers? T?hey certainly are Bob. Sufjan Stevens is a particularly interesting case. Michigan bom and raised, he has started a (sizeable) mission to release an album for eveiy U.S. state, the nattily titled 50 States project. Got far has he? Well two down so far. Michigan, and the recently released Illinois; both resplendent with whispered vocals, banjo and sparse but beautiful guitar. Oh and God, as well. Because that's Important. What about that Devendra Moke? Ahh yes, bless you Devendra Banhart, featured in last weeks Beaver no-less. Devendra is a man of many parts, for he is. indeed the head honcho in his ^ 'Family of troubadours', encompassing almost all of the contemporary folk movement. Thanks. So can you just explain again, what is the difference between neo-folk and the old traditional folk? Largely a change in mentality. Neo-folk embodies the traditional ethos of folk, minus the slightly embarrassing shameful connotations (see sleigh bells and ince.st). A new band of minstrels proclaiming their message of free-love, or at least a bit of a bargain offer. So anyone else to look out for? ; The silver-tongued Josephine I Foster, Vetiver, Espers, Vashti j Bunyan, Dianne Cluck, Andy } Cabic, and the Green Man Festival line up, . • , .. 4 The Review Section 1 i.. The Boards of Canada: Campfire Headphase Listening The to of Boards Canada is kind of like being in love. So many wonderful things going on at once, yet somehow they all fit together so well. Unlike the unfortunate fate of love though, 'Boards of Canada' somehow seem to keep getting better No one would have ever thought that the addition of a guitar, the most ubiquitous of modern instruments, could revolutionise a sound. Somehow the Scottish duo have achieved this on their new album, The Campfire Headphase. Hearing the guitar break on 'Dayvan Cowboy' feels like your first exhilarating contact with the six strings. From the ethereal lullaby 'Peacock Tail' to the mellowed complexity of 'Satellite Anthem Icarus', the 'Boards' cut and paste new horizons into every album (they edit all their tapes by hand). It's impossible to call The Campfire Headphase a typical 'Boards' album, if there ever was such a thing. Adaptable to any situation, it can be as uplifting on a sunny day as it can be moody on a grey afternoon. However like most things worthy of appreciation, it gives its best when enjoyed with careful attention; it's hard not to be drawn into this complex world. Essential to both the 'Boards' virgin and the seasoned veteran, The Campfire Headphase can be the love affair of the year. natolievassilouthis FabricLive 24: Diplo Firstly, I want to know who out there has heard of this guy 'Diplo'? If you have, then fair play, you are now just that little bit cooler... if you haven't, no worries... come join me for a little musical journey. 'Diplo', a.k.a Wes Pentz, was sent to us from Mississippi surprisingly... but from here on in, and to rope in some extra drama, he will be known to us as the 'Renaissance DJ'. This twenty-six track album is not just good, it is shit hot with a cherry-on-top. His music has been described as '80s nostalgia with mainstream hip-hop, dancehall and crunk'-whatever the hell that is. Whilst it certainly has an 80's element-Yazoo 'Don't Go' for example - I feel slightly irritated by the 'hip-hop' tag. Yes there is Ludacris, Outkast and DJ Nasty on the album but cut this 'God' some bloody slack... even these tracks would be hard pressed to send this album down mainstream alley. With Brazilian flavours from Gaiola Das Popozudas; electro from the likes of Aphex Twin, Cybotron; and slow groove beats from Plantlife feat. CO- CO o Single of the week Lady Sovereigji: Hoodie Nina Sky, is our hero, 'Diplo' purposefully trying to confuse our set-in-stone musical tastes? A sly one indeed. Whilst one may declare 'ah choon' at regular intervals, I doubt you will be doing much 'let's go dance' talk if listened to this record in a 'party environment'. The album has got that slight gay-club, 'robot-bop' feel to it, but I can't see any problem there. hannacork Tracy and the Plastics: Culture and Pigeon ILesbian fem-linist artist? !c h e c k . lElectronic |m u s i c ? jC h e c k . [Pretentious jliner notes 'and press information sheet? Check. Three members, two of which aren't "real"? Check. Performances which challenge visual norms? Check. Comparisons to Devo, Numbers and Bikini Kill? Check. This is sounding like it could be my favourite record ever. Before I could find out whether or not it was my favourite record ever I was met with one compact disc which had TWO SIDES when I opened the case. One side was a DVD, one side a CD. Honestly, the things they can do nowadays amaze me. The music? It's sparse without being the kind of sparse that is boring and too challenging. At times (like in the song 'Henrietta') it's like what would happen if Le Tigre took themselves seriously and were suffering from depression. Other times it's early PJ Harvey with keyboards instead of guitars (like in the song 'Oh Birds'). At all times it's inventive and fabulously put together You can't fail to like this record if you are into the same things as me. And if you're not? If all this sounds a bit weird? Then why not take a risk and do something different? This record could act as a nice, safe introduction to even stranger, better things. lourakirsop ¦ London grime star Lady ¦ Sovereign's Basement Jaxx produced single ain't about robbing shops at Bluewater. It's about stopping your brethren sporting terrible clothes ("Black shoes, white socks - No-o-oh! / Polka dots - No-o-oh!") and - most importantly - having fun. 'Hoodie' is witty, charming, and could mark the beginning of a more mainstream success for The S-O-V. If you're not dancing, ^ by the end of this record then I; ; don't want to be your fri^d. laurakifsop Rogers Sisters: Emotion Control ; Eogers Sisters are two sisters.; proper, and one honourary "sis-j ; ter" {who is a gi;^ but that's; cool) from some hip NYC bor- • ough. 'Emotion Control' is a: tight new-wave number, and; rcould be their big dance floorl hit. Jennifer's vocals come ofi all Debbie Ha^ 0n a good way); ; and the wailing guitars are per- = ; feet for throwing yourself i around to. "The Conversation' i : comes off like a band who've! been sniffing around Andy Gill's i leftover chops, but then that's; pretty much a pre-requisite fori any band putting out a single ¦ . these days, right? At least they; threw in a bit of sax fi-eak-out at ' the end. mattboys Mando Diao: Down in the Past If Pete Doherty was Swedish . and sober, this is what the Libertines may have sounded like. After two years of touring, ; the boys are back in town with : their second album. Thankfully i their first single Down in the Past is one of the more energised tracks from the album. This track has a quirky, indie-pop about it but does does fall into the trap of sounding routine. . It's not quite The Hives but garners a pop simplicity that's refreshing. ismatabidi Prodigy - Out Of SpaceA'bodoo People Remixes I'm always suspect about remixes of classic tracks - but I urge anyone - nay, everyone - who's ever liked the Prodigy to buy this single immediately. The Pendulum remix of 'Voodoo People' is even better than the classic original - harder, faster, nuttier. Admittedly, 'Audio' Bully's' 'Out Of Space' remix doesn't compare to the original, :; but will entertain the house-' raver types out there. Vinyl lis- ; teners also get the rather excellent Sub ibcus remix of 'Smack My Bitch Up. Worth it, I swear.^ owensnmith c M K e it COME ALONG FOU YOUR CHANCE TO WIN AN iPOD NANO ¦ 1 • J How far a career with Srvt- Shell could take y ' - Corm and lake a olo»r look af Shell. ^fcu1l find ou^ whaf a global energy and psfiocK cjomporiy can do for-yt>o;/ Sfiel has a wicfe range; of tasfh fe^hnical and comroeroial toles aitjund fhe world. And by wo bgalher^ we can help you o^hieye ysiur career aspirciHons. 5/^e^f fs an-fcauat'C^porft/m'iV Gnpt'oyer For more informafon oon'is along to our Shell gnodualss and repmsentaHyej ffom Shell. Doi^e and Times 18 30, Ctttober 25t :,,Cqmbri0-%iife^ Nev. EjdiibH iont Achi«vi[ig mom togofher -h 20 n/10/05 iBeaver: Bart I c M K ? ? PQ The Corpse Bride (gm I «. V » z V r m 9 a v i 'The script is wasted on a cast who seem unable to gel together on stage' n't help feeling that the strength of Brian Friel's script should have been not in what was spoken, but the things left unsaid. At its best, this kind of intensely character-based theatre can be affecting and beautiful, but it is heavily reliant on the cast's sense of timing and ability to interact with each other, and that is what is missing in Tom Cairns' production. It is simply hard to believe that Gina McKee's Judith once accepted a drunken marriage proposal from her sister's rebellious husband -there is no sense of the repressed sexual chemistry between them that the lines seem to suggest. The denouement, when it finally arrives, is almost overlooked - an offhand delivery that one imagines may have looked subtly poignant in the script but is wasted on a cast who seem unable to gel together on stage. Indeed, the awkwardness that underlies this production comes Where: Lyttelton Theatre at the National (Nearest tube; Waterloo) When: 7.30pm (Wednesday 2.15pm) Runs Until: Thursday 13 October 2005 Prices: £10 - £36 Director: Tom Cairns Playwright: Brian Friel not from Friel's sense of domestic tension, but from the feeling that the actors themselves are not comfortable. Andrew Scott, as the deranged brother, has moments of unsettling brilliance, but many of his lines seemed to be ill-timed and melodramatic, leaving the audience to laugh nervously at what should have been the play's most affecting moments. For a production that is three months into its run, I was left feeling that I was watching a cast that have yet to settle into their roles. w ? ? H rt> p i-s O) nil HMi s GPriOUAil; Ei'ilPlUYERS Merrill Lynch ml.com/careers/europe / SHARE OUR PASSION MERRILL LYNCH PRESENTATION VENUE: Merrill Lynch Financial Centre, 2 King Edward Street, London EC1 DATE & TIME: 18 October 2005 - 6pm 8 November 2005 - 6pm This is your opportunity to hear about the outstanding career possibilities, people, products and services that define Merrill Lynch as exceptional without exception. Could you come and share our passion in everything we do? FULL TIME OR SUMMER INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: • GLOBAL MARKETS • OPERATIONS • RESEARCH • INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT • INVESTMENT BANKING • TECHNOLOGY To reserve your place or to apply sign up early at ml.com/careers/europe Closing date for Full Time opportunities: 6 November 2005. Closing date for Summer Internship opportunities: 15 January 2006. Merrill Lynch is an equal opportunity employer. EXCEPTIONAL WITHOUT EXCEPTION iBeaver: Bart 11/10/05 23' Scratching away the bingho sees Edvard Munch at his most vulnerable The tortuous figures and dark brooding colours in Edvard Munch's paintings reflect the painter's own tumultuous life of personal tragedies, a dramatic love life, alcoholism, illness and a ceaseless drive to understand the meaning of being human. Best known for his influential expressionist paintings. Munch is less well known as a portrait artist. However, throughout his life Munch recorded his inner landscape on canvas, in woodcuts and in sketches as he faced mental breakdown, recovery, love, living, disease and finally, death. Edvard Munch By Himself is a massive exhibition of 150 works from the painter, a visual autobiography charting his life as he sinks ever deeper into depression and alcoholism. It also brings to light a very different side of Munch as he recovers from his depression, with brighter colours and less dramatic yet equally powerful imagery. All these works are displayed on the walls of two galleries at the Royal Academy, with each room of the galleries hosting work from a particular phase of his life or on a particular subject. Starting with a self portrait Munch painted as a student studying at the Kristiania School of Drawing, the tone of the exhibition is soon set as Munch abandons the naturalist, representational approach to painting. Instead, he aims to explore and create his own visual vocabulary for expressing his own inner life. Munch begins to literally scratch away the skin in an attempt to reveal the mindscape that haunts him, and there are many demons that dwell in those landscapes. Shadows follow Munch from painting to painting, and he often looks out at the viewer in fear. Well aware of the public scrutiny and criticism his work was under. Munch sometimes appears naked in his paintings, stripped of civilising clothing and of its protection, vulnerable to sharp, merciless eyes. Whether lying on an operating table in front of medical students or burning in hell, Munch's neurosis is reflected by his tortuous auras and fearful eyes. Illness and death, as well as his turbulent relationship with women are shown again and again. Munch's mother passed away when he was 5, killed by tuberculosis. His sister died when he was 14, also from tuberculosis. A close friend, Dagney Przybyszewska, was murdered by her young husband while they were on holiday in Switzerland. Munch shot himself in his left hand in an argument with his lover. The paintings with women Edvard Munch with a burning cigarette are violent, emotionally volatile, and manic, swinging from suffocating intimacy to cold isolation. The man is almost invisible, overwhelmed by the nude female body in In the male brain, while Munch is shown embracing his predator in Vampire, cocooned by her blood red hair as she drains away his Ufe. Yet this intimacy is betrayed in other works. Munch found it impossible to reconcile the different aspects of women into the one physical body. Woman, Sphinx presents the riddle of the woman, pure and fair, prim and dark, and sensuously threatening. Munch observes these aspects from a murky forest, where he almost dissolves into the rich blackness. Munch was also conscious of his own status as a thinker rather than as an artist. Munch in Self portrait with cigarette presents himself as darkly sophisticated with an occult intelligence, an understanding of the power of visual language to represent our inner selves. Yet his intelligence could not stop his slide into despair and eventual mental collapse. His portraits during his recovery period from 1902-1908 focus even more intensely on himself, and there is a noticeable shift 'Munch's neurosis is reflected by his tortuous auras and fearful eyes' in style away from dark, obsessive brooding on pain and separation. Shadows lighten to form auras in Self portrait with broad rimmed hat, and become almost like halos in Towards the light. This new phase of Munch's life is shown by Munch's depiction of Ingebory Kaurin, a young model working with Munch. No longer is the woman shown as threatening and suffocating. Instead Munch explores the relationship between man and woman, using space and form in the series of The artist and his model to show intimacy, jealousy and possessiveness. Munch spent his final years in Ekely, near Oslo. Conscious of his mortality. Munch places himself between a handless clock and an empty bed, where one is bom and where one dies. Blinded a few years earlier by a burst blood vessel, Munch is eyeless and expressionless. Wanting to die consciously, Munch is perhaps aware that these eyes will not be needed to see his way back home. Edvard Munch by Himself At: Royal Academy of Arts Price: £6 with NUS Tube: Green Park / Piccadilly Living with Risk The LSE's latest photo-exhibition reveiwed by nastarantavakoll-far The atrium in the Old Building (next to student services) is currently home to an exhibition of photographs exporing the theme: Living with risk. The exhibtiion focuses on a few main themes with the first being migration. Nancy Durrell-McKenna has a photograph of a mine worker in Latin America. The miner's steel like body is lost amongst the most brittle of crumbling coal pieces. Elsewhere there are strong reminders of the highly personal suffering of those with HIV/AIDS. Project Lazarus in New Orleans is (or rather was) Louisiana's only free service for poor HIV/AIDS sufferers. Alvaro Leira captures a solitary man looking to the floor. Parishioners in Laos are shown by Jacob Silberberg. The ladies are holding banners with their details and the slogan 'God is the healer'. One lady looks very bold and dignified, the other not so. Living With Risk could not be complete without a section on terrorism. An Iraqi father and son are caught between the crossfire between the US Army and Mogtaq al-Sadr's Mehdi Army. The landscape, taken by Kael Alford, is bleak. PYancesco Cito's photograph is moving. We see a Palestinian family posed in front of their home with one member holding a portrait of the mother. She looks harmless. The caption informs us that she blew herself up and killed six Israelis only five days later And you thought you could spot a terrorist? Climate change is also affecting lives in more powerful ways than we perhaps suspect. Dieter Tilmans shows us Bangladeshis, they appear at ease in the waters but will this ease last for long with the threat of more severe flooding? Elsewhere Dean Sevell takes a snap of two Sydney residents fleeing from a recent bushfire, their silhouettes solid against the thick smog of smoke. The loss of homes is another theme explored. Jez Coulson takes a snap of a sign erected by a survivor of Hurricane Katrina: 'You loot, I shoot'. This is cleverly contrasted with Chris Stowers' photograph of Indians working together to rebuild their communities after December 2004's tsunami. One of the most powerful images of the exhibition is by Sven Torfinn showing the nothingness left of a village in Darfur after the arrival of the militias. Perhaps the final photograph sums up the exhibit better than any other. Paul Lowe shows Rwandans protesting at the international community's failure to act during 1994's genocide. One man holds a placard reading: 'the world which ignored the genocide is now blaming the victims'. A stark warning that we must take responsibility towards the fate of our planet and ourselves before pointing fingers. At; Atrium, Old Building, LSE Price: Free Cd ? ? '24 11/10/05 iBeaver: Bart Brutal Modernism Streets in the sky James Upsher takes another look at some of London's fascinatingly ugly buildings y London is home to some of the world's most beautiful buildings. Prom the elegant spires of Christopher Wrens churches to the majesty of the Victorian new-classicism and neo-gothic remnants of empire. But London's architects have never all been on the same page. Few have tried to unite this incomprehensible but inexplicably functional mess into something more meaningful. Christopher 'Wren (who built St Paul's) tried. Even as the embers of Stewart London were still smoking he was drafting plans for a great metropolis on the north bank. Sadly as he sat in his offices drafting the architecturally ignorant London proles selfishly rebuilt there former homes and his sweeping avenues and grand public spaces remained unrealised. The Germans, who again had little regard for London's architectural future, once more set the capital ablaze. The nightmare of the Blitz killed thousands and levelled acres, but from it arose a new chance and a new future. London would be rebuilt: but this time by a new and optimistic Labour government as a modem city. Streets would be raised aloft and with them the poor would be elevated out of their suffering as our men returned to 'homes fit for heroes'. This was Modernism's finest hour. The work of Le Corbusier and his contemporaries envisioned a new and bright future for living. Buildings would serve rather than confine us. Every family would live in cleanliness, light and space. Modernism was far from the mainstream in Britain before the war, and repugnant to many in our political tradition. It's leading institution the C o n g r e s Internationaux d'Architecture Moderne (CIAM) held some provocatively leftwing views, making such claims as: "the chaotic division of land, resulting from sales, speculations, inheritances, must be abolished by a collective and methodical land policy." Sounds like communism to me. Consider the elegant functionality of Denys Lasdun's Keeling House in Bethnal Green to the plywood boxes that Baretts, Mowlems and others are throwing up across the capital. Modernism may have desired to rewrite our social rules, but it did so with a deep consideration of those who would be housed. Lasdun spent a great deal of time in Bethnal Green "London would be rebuilt: but this time by a new and optimistic Labour government as a modem city." before he started work on the building, he studied the terraced streets that remained from the Luftwaffe's slum clearance work and tried to create a building that would preserve this commimity while lifting it above the squalor. Functional terraced houses would be stacked into vertical streets around a common service area where wives would gather to dry laundry and share gossip. He failed, like most from the modernist movement, but ultimately he is a better man than those who have followed him. Lasdun's architecture was daring and attempted to address the society that built it with a critical eye, in comparison Foster's pathetic swirled staircases and Rodger's exposed air conditioning units make no more comment than a vapid appeal for attention. Erno Goldfinger was another who pushed the boundaries, and had a far more personal connection with his work. The famous and trendy Trellick tower in Ladbrock Grove is the younger brother of the far less urbane Balfron tower in Poplar Goldfinger moved into this tower for two months after its construction, throwing elegant champaine receptions for the bemused cockney dockworkers. From his time in Balfron he learned many lessons on how his theory worked in practice and made significant improvements to the Trellick Tower's design. | Balfron, Trelick and • Keeling all failed in the intention to lift the poor out of squalor, the old sufferenings of overcrowding and' poor sanitation were replaced by isolation and crime. But with hindsight many would vindicate the archi-^tecture and turn thjre blame on the councils who managed them. Politically motivated councils decided that concierges were too paternalistic, leaving residents exposed to crime. Councils failed to maintain the structures and services, and housed problem tenants who had no desire to be there in the buildings. By the 1980s the buildings had fallen into disrepair and neglect. Keeling lay derelict by the 90s and Balfron and Trellick were infamous as the 'towers of terror' in the tabloids. Keeling is now a private development and one of the top flats is on' the market for £375,000. Thanks to a very active residents association and an enlightened council the Trellick tower has benefited from the Netting Hill boom and is now one of the trendiest places to live in west London, best of all, this has been accomplished while still being over 80% Local Authority tenants. Balfron remains a challenge, located as it is in unfashionable and impoverished Poplar. What has been shown is that with proper care highrise living can succ-seed, but it is no cheap solution to our housing needs. These buildings may not be attractive in the traditional sense, but they are monuments to a time of greater optimism, and they are fascinat- ........ ing - if flawed - explorations of I how we interact p with the places we live. :4 ¦ Keeli ? ? PQ The Trelhck lower ¦ » I ; Architects Erno Goldfing| Built: 1978 Tu be: Lad broke* GfoVe* -How to find it: Its 32 stc^ries high*, you i can't miss it. Open for • Open House Weekend. Bisiilt^ 195^ V Jubj^BrfPmSf Gr u be^gpiHma I tobw'to find it: North uj3 Cambridge . ^ Heath RdtiTurn Left ont.b,0-^l Hackn&y^'Road. I "Wi iBeaver: Bart 11/10/05 25 Three sheets to the wind Three sheets to the wind See what I did there? I'm writing about a boat bar and used a popular sailor's expression for being pissed ... It's official - Gareth Rees is not just a sex God, he's also a master of semantics I To be honest, in all my 20 years of living in London I had never been on any of the moored up boats on the Thames (except the HMS Belfast). You know the ones, you're walking along Waterloo or Jubilee Bridge (the one next to Hungerford/Charing Cross train bridge) and see an old steam-driven river barge moored up along the embankment. Well I'm kicking myself now, because they're bars - and half decent ones at that, which I discovered after rigorous research on your behalf. Okay, so admittedly the weather is not fabulous at the moment for drinking outside on the deck of a Thames boat - but there's a distant chance that there may be a few bouts of sunshine before we descend into the true 'British Winter' so read this article and as soon as El Sol sticks his head out from behind the hordes of imposing clouds get down to the Thames and have a pint! The first of these floating havens of alcoholism I discovered thanks to a friend of mine who suggested going to the Tattershall Castle. Needless to say I was perplexed - I'd never heard of popping down to the depths of Lincolnshire for a 'swift half between lectures. My bewilderment was soon dispelled upon walking down to the river and seeing exactly what he was talking about, and I'd recommend you did the same. The Tattershall Castle is an old paddle-steamer which was used on the Humber estuary. It was newly refurbished at the cost of £4.75 million just over a-year ago in June 2004. Whilst it's certainly a nice venue I wouldn't say the renovation would have cost something just shy of five million, but then when they redid the 3 T\ins last year that was £800,000 or so (irate corrections to be sent to the usual address please). Incidentally, it's now owned by Spirit Group - I can personally guarantee you that you've been in one of their branches: by pure happenstance I had an uninterrupted series of 12 different pubs that I went to (all on different days!), all of which run by them. If you need to check you're in one of their pubs just look for a Kashmiri Chicken Curry on the menu! The ubiquity of their pubs, however, is no bad thing - they always have a reasonable range of drinks and produce good-value tasty food. The food they serve does break from being identical to all of the other "Spirit Group" pubs, but is still fairly standard english fayre, although with a few more continental popular favourites included. Offerings include -Ham, Egg & Chips, Chicken Caesar Salad, Baked Camembert and Rocket Penne Pasta. Booze-wise it's all fairly standard - stock offerings of afford-able/half-decent wines, bottled and draught beers and soft drinks. I wouldn't go out of your way to come here for the bar itself - but couple an unremarkable drink with a remarkable view and fabulous weather and the drink is no longer relevant. There is also a night club and comedy club to be enjoyed. Bar Food: International Admission: Nightclub every Friday & Saturday from 9;00pm-3:00am £5 before lQ:00pm £7 after Times: Mon-FH: ll:00am-ll:00pra Sat: 12:00am-ll:00pm Sun: 12:00am-10:30pm Tattershall Castle Bar & Club King's Reach Victoria Embankment Tel: 020 7839 6548 www.tattershallcastle.co.uk Nearest Hibes: Embankment Circle/District/Bakerloo/Northe rn Lines Westminster Circle/District/Jubilee There are another 3 that I know of along the same stretch of the river - all of them have someting different to offer (some are more expensive etc): 1) Queen Mary (TS) Ptib & Club Waterloo Pier Tel: 020 7240 9404 www.queenmary.co.uk A former Clyde pleasure steamer (complete with wood-panelled and brass-polished interior) which serves traditional pub fayre from 12:00-21:00 "I'd never heard of popping down to the depths of Lincolnshire for a 'swift half..." They also have a nightclub called Hornblowers which is open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays playing a mixture of chart, funk, cheese and house. If you enjoy the Tattershall Castle and you'd like to find another boat bar then you're in luck! V, // mi / / % 2) El Barco Latino Bar & Restaurant Temple Pier Tel: 020 7379 5496 www.elbarcolatino.co.uk My how far this latin boast has come from it's days as "Wilfred" -a london sailing barge. El Barco Latino is open everyday but Monday - serving authentic Latin American and international food together with a reasonable selection of Spanish and South American wines. Needless to say the music they play is predominantly Latino so go and practice your Salsa! 3) Hispaniola Bar & Restaurant Victoria Embankment The Hispaniola is the top-end of the selection: fully air-conditioned; high-quality restaurant (serving tapas & modern European cuisine with a twist of the Mediterranean); and a cocktail bar. The restaurant is located on the main deck and boasts the finest wine cellar of the four boats. Tapas is also available from 11:00-23:00. - .1--; Od ? ? 26 11/10/05 iBeaver: Bart Orange Award 'Best of the Best' (D cd QJ ? ? PQ The Orange Award stevegummer sat alongside the crowd of literature's elite at the orange 'best of the best' awards. The Orange Awards: amongst a rather intimate crowd of literature's elite it was an honour to pretentiously nod in approval as Andrea Levy lifted Orange's Best of the Best literature award. Hosted by the sleek and delightful Kate Mosse, the evening was far more than a testimony to the incredible author of Small Island. It emerged as a sublime discussion of feminine accomplishment over the last 10 years. Patronisingly referred to as the 'lemon award' when founded, the Orange prize set out with the aim to restore women writer's rightful place amongst literature's major prize winners. Having seen the event I was left in little doubt that this award had done as it set out to do and proved to be an illuminous 'up-yours' to the prize's original critics. The five-woman panel provided a delightful prequel to the presentation of the award. They pithily discussed the past of the award itself, as well as the core statistics regarding women and literature. One of the panellists cited Ian McEwan and his empirical study of handing out books in a park for free -All the women accepted them whilst, rather ^disappointingly, all the men were convinced they were being scammed and refused to take a free copy. Hardly required female intuition did it? Yet this award ceremony made clear that women are writers of books and not just the predominant readers. Despite this, the levels of feminist banter sometimes reaching an overly / excited climax. At one stage one of the panellists expressed surprise that there were 500 men capable of reading a book -hardly anyone who attended could be left in any doubt that ten years of Orange Awards signifies a great achievement. And now onto the main event... the winner herself. Levy's victory was relatively unsurprising after having been victorious in the Radio Four phone-in between the ten books earlier in the day. However she received a rapturous ovation that was undoubtedly deserved. The British bom Jamaican declared in her speech that she hadn't really read a book until the age of twenty-three. Claiming she was more of a soap opera fan, it was devastating to think that this award's most gracious winner scraped only one grade E in English A-levels. So much for the national curriculum. Following her celebratory speech and with the night rapidly coming to an end there was still time for Levy to delight the audience by reading an extract from her award winning work. It is hard to do justice to her performance and indeed doing so may well only be possible for someone with her own linguistic ability. The only thing that could adequately close the night was a trip to the bar. Looking at the barman quizzically when he asked me if I wanted anything in my drink I replied with the only response truly appropriate: 'I'll have a slice of orange but hold the lemon.' The Ten Orange Award Winners Orange stevegummer reviews... We need to talk aboutl Kevin by I..i(>ne]| Shriver. (2005 winner) Lionel Shriver was| the 2005 winner of the award and is a powerful argument never to have children. Eva, the protagonist writes letters to her estranged husband in order to try and explain the behaviour of their murderous son Kevin. Cold and oppressive, this book takes a twisted look at one of life's worst outcomes. Shriver exploits beautifully Eva's biased narrative and inner self-doubt. Any reader should be able to sense the protagonist's isolation and feel the paths mount to one of the most devastating climaxes I have ever experienced. Yet worry not, there is light at the end of the tunnel, not much but just enough to see by. LO o o CN 0 O O o CO Property by Valerie Martin. (2003 winner) This is not a storyl of heroics and grand! actions; it is the storyl of one woman who feels isolated in her life as the wife of a plantation owner in the American South. Manon Gaudet is entirely indifferent to the plight of the slaves around her, especially towards Sarah, the slave girl with which her husband fathers two children. The story is narrated by Manon, and we grow to realise that much of her bitterness is born of years of hatred towards her husband. The book, horrific in parts, is an important account of the realities of this dark chapter of recent history and is an absorbing read. elainelondesborough \ M. K Bel Canto by Ann Pratchett (2002 Winner) The book chronicles what happens when a I gang of terrorists take I over a birthday party held at th.e home of the vice president of an unidentified South American country. Though it is obvious that there's no possible way this can end well. Pratchett's characters hostages and terrorists alike - are all so believably human that she still manages to create suspense. Unlike many of the other winners of this prestigious award, Pratchett combines a twist and turn stoiy line with a creative and delightful use of language. The Idea of Perfection^ by Kate Grcnville (2001 winner) Kate Grenville's literary award winner revolves around the powerful attraction of two unlikely lovers. Douglas Cheeseman and Harley Sayage are both divorcees and unlikely lovers. However in this quirky and bizarre romance the two are soon put on an inevitable pathway towards one another This novel is a testament to feeling inwardly uncomfortable and to the very meaning of the term 'Carpe Diem'. Grenville encourages her readers to see the beauty in everyday life, in things normally considered mundane. Equally our author utilises incredible language that brings to life some of her amazing landscapes. Not quite as harrowing as a lot of the other contenders. When I lived in Modem Times by Linda Grant (2000_ winner) Evelyn Sert is anc unsuspecting spy in Tel I Aviv for an underground army. Linda I Grant explores with ar remarkably balanced'' perspective the Arab/Israeli conflict. Furthermore our author presents us with an incredible sense of place. She describes in vivid detail the smells, the colours of the sky, the overwhelming heat, nature and of course the sea. It iBeaver: Bart 11/10/05 27 The 'Best of the Best' won by Andrea Levy's novel 'Small Island' it's worth more than its weight in awards clainns rothnabegum. powerfully evokes the feelings of a budding Israel and is a must for anyone who wishes to understand the depth of this conflict in a more detailed way. A Crime in Neighbourhood Suzanne Beme winner) Suzanne Berne| explores crime and its! social effects in a pro-| found and disturbing way. Whilst the reader may feel pointed to the one most heinous crime, sexual abuse, this book deals with a whole array of crime. At times this book is disturbingly dark and it is easy for a reader to become overly involved in it. The language is at stages incredible and moves beyond the sublime. As well as being a superb work of fiction this novel is a profound exploration of American life and many of the problems that suburban areas suffer from. Larry's Party by Carol Shields (1998 winner) To be honest this is the only one of our winner's that I found to be relatively disap-l pointing. It's all too easy! to appreciate the philo-| sophical and social discussion of this novell however its plot is, in my" opinion, hugely limited and the attention to detail can at times be wholly irritating, for example Larry's continual attention to the aging process. Despite my disillusionment with the basic story Shield's linguistic ability is admirable. Her protagonist's love for mazes is shadowed in the author's use of language - the work moves back and forth continually with telling metaphors, memorable phrases, and gentle satire. Don't take my word or dislike of the plot as the truth, its still well worth a read. Fugitive Pieces by Anne Micheals (1997 winner) The magical language of this book and ' its poetic intensity leaves you unsurprised that it took the writer 10 years to produce.! Originally following the narrative of Jakob and subsequently the life Small Island is certainly the 'Best of the Best' exploring England's time ofj recovery from war where four characters]_ are plunged into a war of their own. Levy ingeniously captures all four characters by writing from all their perspectives. The story is portrayed from two Jamaican characters who migrate to Mother England and the two white characters who provide lodging to them. Gilbert Joseph yearned to live in England having spent his time as part of the RAF fighting against Hitler. His wife Hortense, who came to England for a better life finds her world crumbling around her when she is confronted by a shabby, decrepit London. Queenie Bligh takes in her Jamaican lodgers when her husband does not come back from the war. However, her neighbours do not approve and nor would her husband if he knew she was doing so. Levy plunges the reader into their pasts to allow you to taste the touch of Jamaica or the countryside of England only to sweep you back to their present where you are left to witness the chaos they happen to be in. She handles such substantial themes of prejudice, empire, love, war with the most earnest touch and good humour. When I picked up this book the last thing I expected it to be was light-hearted and funny. So imagine my surprise when I was presented with a novel that can handle big themes with suspense of a soap opera yet exceptionally beautifully well-written. Doing all this with the warmth of jokes and great characters. I could not put this book down, more to the point I did not want to put it down. Levy's creation 'Small Island' is worth more than its weight in awards. path of Ben, it is the consistency of the themes that provides a true sense of unity. Michaels deals with the damage that can be done by the past and the inability of humans to recover from horrific events. Her characters are irreparably damaged but admirable in their frailty. The author daringly defies a linear notion of time and portrays her characters as broken: 'Born into absence... a hiding place, rotted out by grief.' A Spell of winter by Helen Dunmore (1996 winner) This 1996 winner spins a complex web of incest and desolation. Dunmore's poetic language creates a painful sense of solitude. Equally, the author's protago- J nists are alarmingly nightmarish. As too is her portrayal of turn of the century England. From the moment you experience the first line to the final breath of the last this novel will overwhelm you with its sense of darkness. The tone set by Dunmore's opening is persistently intense: 'I saw an arm fall off a man once,' said Kate. Creative Writing The Wanderer By Teresa Queiros 'Tell me, it is such a surprise to see you here, Marcus. I was afraid I would never meet you,' said the gentleman. 'Your father never mentioned your interest in the family business. But, if you have anything like your father's gift, then I am only sorry you did not come before'. Marcus smiled uneasily, and waved at a distance, pretending to have seen someone. "The gentleman smiled kindly, and let him lose himself in the crowd that was already present at that hour. 'It wasn't so hard to lie after all' Marcus thought to himself. But he feared that it would not be so easy in the future. As Marcus wandered around the fair, he could not help but be struck by the enormous variety of beautiful things that surrounded him. There were rare Famille Verte porcelain pieces, Galle furniture and numerous Persian rugs, and Marcus was almost overwhelmed by the colours and styles present in this one room. He walked to the centre of the room and saw the biggest banner of them all, hanging from the ceiling. It read 'Auction of the Zaldo's family collection tomorrow at 6pm ', and he was comforted by the fact that he was in the right place after all. Marcus quickly scanned the room, to see if he could recognize anyone, and in one of the comers at the end of the room was Emily Zaldo, his childhood friend and last surviving member of the Zaldos. Emily had not changed much in the last 10 years. She was still the tall, slightly awkward red haired girl. She was leaning against a wall, trying to make herself invisible to the world, in her loose black trousers and top. Marcus had thought that it was likely that he would see Emily at the fair, but he had hoped that it would not happen. The last time they had seen each other, he had sworn never to approach her again. But now that he saw her, looking so sad, so soon after her father's death, he felt the urge to both run away and not go through with the plan, and at the same time to hug her. If you wish to continue this story please submit it to r.begum@lse.ac.uk Orange Award 'Best of the Best' Cd ? ? rt> (-5 P (D 28 11/10/05 iBeaver: Listings Your Guide to What's On This Week 12:30 SIKH-PUBJAB Society Event: 2nd Annual Bhangra Run Venue: Outside the library Info; In October 2004, we made our own little piece of history when we did the first Bhangra Run. It was created as a celebration of our wonderful culture, our legacy to everyone at LSE. Some were shocked, some joined in, but everyone remembered; and now the time comes when we do it all again. 17:00 CANADIAN Society Event: Annual General Meeting Venue: D106 Info: Canadian? Friends with Canadians? Just like Canada or see it as a soft touch for future immigration? Come on down to our annual general meeting to get elected or just get in touch. 17:00 FRIENDS OF PALESTINE Society Event Annual General Meeting Venue: S300 Info: The AGM for the Friends of Palestine, meeting others interested in the cause and take part in elections. 17:00 KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS Society Event: Introduction to Krishna Venue: A3 7 9 Info: An introduction to our society for all newcomers and everyone who is interested. 19:00 SWING DANCE Society Event: First class and AGM Venue: G1 Cost: £2 for members; £3 for non-members (usually £4 for non-members) Info: Please wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move freely, and flat shoes, the smoother the better. 19:00 London University Swimming Team (LUST) Event: Introductory Session Venue: ULU, Malet Street Info: Come along to the team's first session of the year, weather interested in competitive swimming or just keeping fit and making friends. 20:00 The Three Tuns Quiz Event: The all new Quiz with great prizes and amazing sound effects. Venue: The Three Tuns Info: Arrive early to form teams and get seats. 13:00 BANGLADESH Society Event: Annual General Meeting Venue: D306 Info: Come along to the Annual General Meeting to join, meet our membership or stand for election. 13:00 MAURITIAN Society AGM, Event: Annual General Meeting Venue: G1 Info: Come along to the Annual General Meeting to join, meet our membership or stand for election. 13:00 CHINESE Society AGM, Event: Annual General Meeting Venue: S75 Info: Come along to the Annual General Meeting to join, meet our membership or stand for election. 14:00 LITERATURE Society AGM, Event: Annual General Meeting Venue Dill Info: Come along to the Annual General Meeting to join, meet our membership or stand for election. 14:00 UN Society AGM, Event: Venue: D209 Info: Come along to the Annual General Meeting to join, meet our membership or stand for election. 13:00 SINGAPORE Society AGM, Event: Annual General Meeting Venue: D502 Info: Come along to the Annual General Meeting to join, meet our membership or stand for election. 16:00 BRIDGE Society Event: first meeting Venue: S421 Info: the first meeing of the Bridge Society. 16:00 HONG KONG PUBLIC AFFAIRS (HKPASS) Society AGM, Event: Venue: G1 Info: Come along to the Annual General Meeting to join, meet our membership or stand for election. 17:00 OUTHERN AFRICAN Society AGM, Event: Venue: S75 Info: 12:00 ARABIC Society AGM, Venue: Dill Info: Come along to the Annual General Meeting to join, meet our membership or stand for election. 14:00 MODERN DANCE Society AGM, Venue: D302 Info: Come along to the Annual General Meeting to join, meet our membership or stand for election. 15:00 INDONESIAN & BRUNEIAN Society AGM, Venue: G209 Info: Come along to the Annual General Meeting to join, meet our membership or stand for election. 17:00 FRIENDS OF AFGHANISTAN Society AGM, Venue: D206 Info: Come along to the Annual General Meeting to join, meet our membership or stand for election. 17:30 EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS Society AGM, Venue: H716 Info: Come along to the Annual General Meeting to join, meet our membership or stand for election. 18:00 FILIPINO Society AGM, Venue: D311 Info: Come along to the Annual General Meeting to join, meet our membership or stand for election. 18:00 SLOVENIAN Society AGM, Venue: G1 Info: Come along to the Annual General Meeting to-join, meet our membership or stand for election. 18:00 Societies' budget meeting Venue: G1 Info: A meeting for all society treasurers explaining the budget application process. 13:00 MALAYSIA CLUB Society AGM, Venue: D302 Info: Come along to the Annual General Meeting to join, meet our membership or stand for election. 13:00 OIKOS Society AGM, Venue: H201 Info: Come along to the Annual General Meeting to join, meet our membership or stand for election. 15:30 KAZAKHSTAN Society AGM, Venue: E168 Info: Come along to the Annual General Meeting to join, meet our membership or stand for election. 16:00 PERUVIAN Society AGM, Venue: HlOl Info: Come along to the Annual General Meeting to join, meet our membership or stand for election. 20:00 CRUSH Venue: The Three Tuns Event: The LSESU's acclaimed party. To include your society event here, email your Societies Officer Jimmy Tam at su.societies@lse.ac.uk by Friday. For the most up-to-date listings, check out the What's On page on the LSE SU website; www.lsesu.com/main/societies/whatson. 0 (D Contact the following email addresses to get involved: QQ thebeaver.news@lse.ac.uk - thebeaver.arts@lse.ac.uk - thebeaver.blink@lse.ac.uk - thebeaver.sports@lse.ac.uk - thebeaver@lse.ac.uk You can still get involved in The Beaver. We are looking for contributors for News, Features (Blink), Music, Film, About, Litrature, Arts, Theatre and Sports. We also are looking for designers, photographers, advertising sales staff, editorial assistants and general help. MONITOR GROUP The Monitor Group is a family of professional services firms linked by shared ownership, management philosophy and assets. Each Group company is dedicated to providing products and services designed fundamentally to enhance the competitiveness of our clients. At the core of the Group is our leading, world-class strategy consultancy. For our clients, we use the varied assets of the Monitor Group to create customised solutions. For our employees the varied assets of the Monitor Group and the global network of 28 offices offer a wide variety of learning and career development experiences and exciting travel opportunities. We are recruiting for Group positions in the London Office. If offered a position, there will be opportunities to work with some of the Group companies represented in London, including corporate and marketing strategy, private equity and innovations strategy. NUI the way we treat our clients COMPANY PRESENTATJON Friday, 21 st October 2005 12.30-230pm LSE, Vera Anstey Room, Holborn Workshop; Saturday, 5th November London Applications are by C.V.and covering letter e-mailed to: Amanda Martin Recruitment _London@monitor.com Finalists are welcome to attend a short information session on strategy consulting hosted by Monitor Group consultants followed by drinks and buffet. Michelin House 81 Fulham Road London SW3 6RD Tel: 020 78386500 Fax; 020 7838 6860 First round interviews will be held on: Tuesday,6th December 2005 Deadline for applications: Friday, nth November 2005 www.monitor.com 30 11/10/05 iBeaverSports The best dressed folk in town! Cut out and play with our sports editors! O Howdy partners, roll up one and all to Wild Wild West in the Union, the Athletics Union's welcome party 2005.Y'all can expect a good old-fashioned hoedown, with line dancing, tequila girls and even a lassoing competition, not to mention LSE's very own bucking broncos. Men's Rugby, in attendance. Of course, y'all gotta look the part if you don't wanna be chased out of town by hoards of gun-toting cowboys. So to give y'all a lil' bit of inspiration, we've gathered together some of the hottest new fashions from the Ol' West, all of them currently making waves down in Cheyenne. Just cut out the clothes and the pics of your favourite editors, and go wild, western style! And don't forget that there's a prize for the best-dressed guy and gal. See y'all tomorrow.... the sports column john incdermott A fortnight ago in these hallowed pages there was an article crammed with soporific drivel on the supposed merits of 4-4-2 over 4-5-1. The issue is dull and irrelevant; like when nailing a netball player one Wednesday and a women's rugby player the next, one has to adapt to the peculiarities of each given chal-Jenge. Fortunately for the ubiquitous Mr Gummer salvation is at close quarter in the form of the most salubrious and sexually prolific LSE institution: the Football Club. Over the past week, I've had the pleasure to usher ^in the new season for the illustrious FC, one which promises to be more trophy-laden and popular with female general course students than ever before. (Providing I can curb the dreaded brewer's droop and stop waking up covered in my own piss as I did this Wednesday). Yet as Brummie would say plus ca change plus la meme chose. What will. from season to season remain constant is the passion with which my teammates have for their club and their reliance on it as a haven for all those that use the library only for 'recreational' purposes during the Barrel. Passion, commitment and the embracing of the lash have been the themes of the past week. Trials, as per usual, resembled Paris in '68 - anarchic and awe-inspiring. There was the obligatory player that started out in the firsts and two hours later found himself tear-sodden and alone on the train home from Fortress Berrylands. Then there was Andy Logan who, when entrusted with the most simple of tasks, failed to notify freshers of the details of day two. This created a scene reminiscent of the Village of the Damned as a hundred lost freshers found themselves stranded in deepest Surrey first thing on a Sunday morning. Despite our best efforts to fuck things up, the new boys excelled themselves. Playing for hours upon end as if they were raising money for spastics, these new FC heroes earned their place in this most fantastic of clubs. By the time Wednesday rolled around the new blood was ready to rock. The Tuns came to resemble a more meriy Heysel as the FC drunk and sang their way to alcoholic nirvana. Rugby were mocked, lifelong friends were made and new ways to school ourselves were devised. Formations and tactics were forgotten since, for us, it is always the passion and sheer obsession with the beautiful game that take precedence. Only by being in the FC can one truly understand football in its highest Platonic Form. The rest of you can mutter on about your trials for Colchester United, your glory days on Championship Manager, and that 'career destroying injury' which prevented you from making it big. We, the FC know better. We are the Dylan to your Donovan. The Kylie to your Danni. And the five-times nightly to your evenings spent crying and wanking yourself to sleep. Long live the Football •Club, forever and ever. Amen. Fig. 1 homo calowus Costumes we'd like to see Biliy the Kid: Real name Henry McCarty He is reputed to have killed 21 men, one for each year of his life (one fewer than Murderer, as the Crush bouncers were quick to learn). McCarty had blue eyes, smooth cheeks, and was disturbingly friendly (could he be seeking refuge in the Gen See's office?!) The Milky Bar Kid: The lovable character of many a chocolate advert. Two of the actors, now aged thirty, are found to be aged drug addicts with sadness in their eyes. How does it feel to glimpse your future, J^rquaad? Pocahontas: Her name was actually a childhood nickname referring to her frolicsome nature (her name means "little wanton" or "playful frolicsome girl" in Powhatan. An apt reflection for the archi-typal AU girl. However, unlike in the Disney film, Pocahontas was horren-dously dugly (dog ugly) in Fig. 2 homo bushus I BeaverSports 11/10/05 31 The real fight club? The dark side of the LSE... mike fauconnier -bank Walking into the Old Gym, the stench of forty people sweating more profusely than Ian Huntley in a pre-school playground hit me harder than a left hook from Mike Tyson himself. But even lyson would have his work cut out fighting Floyd Brown, the LSE's Muay Thai instructor and a former World Heavyweight champion in Fteestyle Fighting. Ricardo Da Silva, a Gracie champion from Brazil who teaches Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at the School, would be no walkover either. Completing the trio of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) instructors is our Boxing trainer Karim, assistant coach to John McDermot who will be challenging Matt Skelton for the Heavyweight title later this year. MMA. Ultimate fighting. Cage fighting. Freestyle fighting. Call it what you will, this stuff is the real deal. Everyone over the age of 12 knows that WWF wrestling is as fake as Jordan's left tit (or her right one for that matter), but MMA is as genuine as it gets. Forget big padded boxing gloves. Try taking a full-contact punch to the face from a trained fighter wearing only a pair of thin 4oz mitts on his oversized fists. And don't think that the fight will stop if you fall to the ground crying - in fact, you will probably be rewarded with a soccer kick to the head. You see, in MMA the fight is only over if you give up, get knocked out or are deemed unable to continue by your corner or by the referee. You can expect to take punches and kicks to all areas of the body with the exception of the groin, neck and back of the head, as well as being on the receiving end of knees and elbow strikes, takedowns, throws, slams and submissions. Don't get me wrong, though - there are rules. In fact, MMA has a far better safety record than boxing. Practitioners are highly trained and, almost exclusively, hold their opponents in the highest regard. This is best illustrated by the regular shows of sportsmanship which take place after the fighters have finished smashing seven shades of shit out of one another. This is probably one of the reasons that the sport is rapidly growing in popularity, with regular sell-out events being held around the country. The largest UK promo--tion. Cage Rage, is held in Wembley Conference Centre and is televised on Sky Sports. Despite this, the LSE is the only university in London with an active MMA club. We are graced with three great instructors and a packed class time-table which allows club members to train up to six times a week. While the option to spar is there, there is no pressure to step into the ring. Many staff and students come along solely for the fitness aspect of the training. Somewhat surprisingly, the club is by no means male dominated. We signed up almost as many girls as guys this year and those who have already made it down to training seem to be enjoying themselves. While I enjoy the sporting aspect of the club most of all, we also train in self defence. Both Floyd and Ricardo have worked as nightclub doormen in the past, and so are used to the realities of street combat. Floyd is also qualified to train doormen in conflict resolution. MMA remains the most realistic, yet safe, simulation of a real fight. Having confidence in your ability to defend yourself will also shine through as you go about your business day to day. Our class timetables can be found on the Student Union website. You can also-email me directly if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing you at training, soon! Fifth impressions Will the new 5th XI reach the sexually deviant heights of last years team? We'd like to take this opportunity to introduce the fifth team LSE SU. This is the team which brought LSE such phrases as "consensual sex is overrated" and "hard sex is not a crime", such barrel costumes as "crispy ducks" and "homosexual Prince Charles'", various incidents of public disturbance, and the most censored article in BeaverSports history. The fifth team is a team oozing with tradition, brimming with talent, and has consistently been the loudest and most prominent group in the Tuns on a Wednesday night. It is therefore necessary, mandatory in fact, to give the Beaversports readership- an insight into everyone's second-favourite team. Despite being the fifth team, it is little known that the 5s are the oldest team in LSE's history. Unknown to many, George Bernard Shaw was in fact a keen footballer, enjoying a regular kickabout at Lincoln's Irm with his other Fabian friends whilst serving as a local government councillor in St. Pancras. A man who liked a drink, plus some alleged dalliance into the 'local ladies' of London, he was keen to form a team who would combine both on and off field talents to a level not seen before in university sport. A combination of dislike of elitism and his satire and verbal artistry led him to the creation of the fifth team. It is pure coincidence that the fifth team has fallen down the ranks of the ULU divisions to actually become the fifth best team in the LSE. But enough of our staggering and barely credible history. After events this summer, the fifth team was left considerably depleted, with many having completed their degrees and going out with a bang. Our new captain, Aarish "the rash" Pandaya, had to prey on a number of freshers last weekend at trials and lure them over to the fifth team. An undisclosed number of sexual favours later, Aarish (whose name the spell-checker wants to change to garish - which says a lot about the man himself) had managed to tempt a band of eighteen freshers who were clearly up for it. In goal of course was fifth team stalwart Dom Doran, though some think him to be the chink in our armour. The defence began to take shape though, with new boys Ben and Josh growing in stature in the centre as the match progressed, and the two Petes (Fresher Pete and Post-Grad Pete - we'll have to work on the nicknames) competing strongly for the full-back positions with Luke and Ed. Samadeus & DJ Birdman Another fresher defender who Aarish picked up was Gareth, who quickly joined the injury list with 1st year Jay. Whilst some injuries are unavoidable with two straight days of trials, the team physios will be carefully following their recovery progress and future physical fitness. The fifth team is not for the weak. The midfield initially comprised of senior members of the team including two qualified physiotherapists, Samadeus and Birdman, a retired jockey, Charlie Hodges, a top flight DJ, Birdman again and the aforementioned Captain Rash. New boys in the mid-field were Dave, Ed, Will and John (if I'm missing someone out, you obviously didn't make a good enough impression). With the loss of one of the biggest pricks at LSE, Adam Stocker, loved by none and hated by all, it was paramount to pick up a new substandard striker. Old timer Mohsin, 21, stupid, from Osterley, and new boy Chris, 18, worst taps player to not be rejected by LSE and enrol at one of the many London poly's, from Bournemouth, along with Irfan made up in some shape or form our new^ front line. After playing a friendly against the sixths, this strike force looked like it couldn't score in a brothel, but a couple of clumsy goals against the sevenths showed a very tiny bit of promise for the new season. Look forward to reading the reports on our vie-"* tories in the coming weeks, especially in our derby matches against the fourth team. We'll also probably just miss out on the league title and promotion and lose in a ULU cup final for the 3rd year in a row. All in all, its gonna be another great year for the"^ fifths... iBeaver SSfC! ir_ 31 Meet the sths More freshers to 'initiate' JMcD» Writes tliis week's column ^^31 Martial Arts I Their club captain introduces the society for violent people C M K The 3rd team: positive role-models? • Their new captain lool