1.
One of the greatest things about these schools is the students’ amazing ability to bring out perfectly synchronised impromptu song and dance routines, and still manage to look cool doing it. Those long days spent practising the dance moves to Single Ladies just don’t seem to have the same effect. These guys just do it so much better; from McKinley High School in Glee, bursting with Broadway tunes and bitchy cheerleaders, to Rydell High in Grease, with the sassy Pink Ladies and sexy (…go on, admit it) T-Birds.
2.
But if singing and dancing is too much for a school to provide, then not to worry; most movie schools tend to make up for it with beautiful teachers. Bradley Cooper in The Hangover is quite simply gorgeous; I’d definitely go back to high school if it meant I could stare at him all day. Hell, detention would be fun! Mr Schu in Glee also isn’t half bad; and, although he may not be the sexiest teacher to date, Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society is just the nicest, loveliest person ever.
3.
Some of the goings-on at these schools are just fantastically surreal – Back To The Future, anyone? Marty goes back in time, when his parents are both in high school, and has to simultaneously reject his mother whilst helping his dad hook up with her; sheer brilliance. Although this very specific situation may not be top on the list of things I’d like to do, going back in time would definitely be up there. Only after impromptu singing and dancing, of course.
4.
No list of movie schools would be complete without a reference to Hogwarts. That’s right; the one and only School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, attended by a certain Harry Potter. It’s hard to know where to start with this one, but somewhere that offers lessons in Potions, Charms and Transfiguration, to name a few, clearly beats boring old Maths and English. There are also nine secret passages, a Forbidden Forest, and you get to travel via the Hogwarts Express. So, what are we waiting for? I’ll meet you on Platform 9 ¾.
5.
The fantastic ways students move from high school to university. Even recently, in the last series of Skins, both Pandora and Thomas managed to get a scholarship to Harvard – in Thomas’ case, by running really fast. Honestly. They’re not the only characters to get into Harvard unconventionally – Elle in Legally Blonde was accepted after sending in a ‘film essay’. A top degree and fabulous clothes? Very jealous indeed.
6.
Speaking of fabulous clothes, the fashion in these movie high schools is incredible. Those mini-skirts and feather boas from Clueless? Just amazing. Not to mention the crop tops and trainers in 10 Things I Hate About You, along with the huge prom dresses, platform-sandal hybrids, and far too many white trousers. On second thoughts, maybe it’s the type of fashion to be admired from a distance…
7.
One element of all high school movies that quite simply never fails to impress me is the ‘geeky makeover’ scene, à la Clueless and Princess Diaries. If only all of us slightly nerdy girls could have some miracle sleepover where it turns out we were actually pretty damn hot along, and we just needed some contact lenses and a decent haircut to transform into the next Scarlett Johansson. Sigh. Maybe then Bradley Cooper would be interested.
8.
It’s brilliant how horrible people always get what they deserve. In real life, the school bully tends to get away with it, but, in the movies, they almost always seem to get their comeuppance. Whether it’s Regina in Mean Girls getting hit by a bus, or Kathryn having her previously flawless reputation destroyed in Cruel Intentions, we love to see the nasty girls get punished.
9.
And, last but not least, the wild and often downright crazy parties that always go down in movie schools and colleges have to get a mention. Ryan Reynolds in Van Wilder is testament to this rule of thumb, as well as showing that students in movies are clearly way more attractive than they could ever be in real life. American Pie – and all the spin-offs – also epitomises the spirit of ‘partying hard’… although certain scenes with an apple pie may stand out more. Or Stifler drinking ‘tainted’ beer. Or Finch and a pool table. On second thoughts, perhaps it’s best we don’t go to movie high schools after all…
For Film24
Wednesday, 28 April 2010
Wednesday, 14 April 2010
Book, Line and Sinker: The Literary Revival That’s Reeled Us In.
Gok Wan, the cast of Wicked, and the York English department; what could they possibly have in common? I’ll give you a clue – it’s not their dress sense. In fact, they are all helping contribute towards the current literary revival, apparent in recent months. At the end of January, earlier this year, the iPad was unveiled, along with a new and extensive iTunes library, leading the way for literature to become technologically relevant. In terms of online opportunities, the success of Txt Lit (www.txtlit.co.uk) shows the appeal of creative writing in a modern way. It holds a unique monthly contest, challenging contestants to write a story based on a certain theme, within 160 characters – the length of an SMS text from a mobile phone. Clever, right?
However, e-books and ridiculously short stories aside, paper and ink books are rapidly increasing in popularity. In popular media, this is reflected in the Channel 4 programme, TV Book Club, which was first aired at the end of January. The premise of the show involves Gok Wan, along with other celebrities including Jo Brand, Dave Spikey, Nathaniel Parker and Laila Rouass, discussing and reviewing a different book each week. The term ‘celebrity’ may be a tad tenuous here, but nonetheless, with the debut episode reaching an impressive daytime peak average audience of around 350,000 viewers, this televised book club highlights a new popular interest in reading, and the beginning of a literary resurgence for this generation.
It’s not, however, simply the reading aspect of literature that has proved popular so far this year – creative writing is making a comeback. The importance of introducing creative and imaginative outlets early on can be seen in the launch of the Young Writers’ Award. Former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo, with the support of the musical Wicked, is launching this contest as a re-embodiment of the WH Smith Young Writers’ Competition, which was discontinued twenty years ago. Clearly the relevance of creative writing is being placed in the foreground – and, if you need any more convincing, well-known previous winners of this contest include Helena Bonham Carter and Kate Beckinsale; clearly proof that it pays to be poetic.
If this seems a little too childish – to be fair, the competition is open to those as young as five – then there are more sophisticated literary trends also on the rise, providing a more adult approach to literature. The most successful of these appear to combine a social night out with a passion for reading – and a dash of alcohol for good measure, of course. An example of these modern literary endeavours is apparent in the book-reading nights that are held at Shoreditch House Literary Salon in east London – a place which claims that ‘not since the Marquis de Sade has reading been this sexy.’ Cocktails and Coleridge – sounds like the making of a great night to me. And, according to Facebook at least, over 1,500 people agree. The future of book clubs may lie in these ‘literary salons’ – showing that literature can evolve in a way that makes it both approachable and enjoyable, and not simply for an educational environment… Thank goodness.
On a smaller scale, or within our own campus, to be specific, the effects of this literary revival can clearly be seen. At York, the English department has introduced an annual anthology, The Looking Glass, and there is even a newly founded Creative Writing society. Combined with the increased interest on a national scale, this could mark the beginning of an entire literary revolution – or make reading and writing a little more popular, at least.
But why is creative writing making such a comeback? Former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo believes that “it allows people to really say what they want to say and in a form that suits them. It's not a rigid rule that they need to follow or something they have to do to get to the next stage of their education. It's much freer and allows them to be themselves perhaps.” Michael also feels that not only is creative writing experiencing a revival, but creativity of all kinds may benefit from this new-found interest, saying that “most of us find our own creative outlet, that suits our feelings. Some will do it by writing, some by talking, some by dancing and painting. I think it's something about freedom to express.”
Yet can this resurgence be maintained? Michael believes that unfortunately “we are still hamstrung by the limitation of the testing and exam system in schools which very often smother creativity”, perhaps threatening the future of the interest in writing. However, he also extols the virtues of encouraging personal writing, explaining that “it's a good sign that an award such as Wicked Young Writers has been established to allow young people to write what they want to write and have an outlet for creativity.”
So, what are you waiting for? All you have to do is pick up a pen, or even get on your phone, in the case of Txt Lit. You might just have the opportunity to win some cash for yourself as well! And if writing doesn’t quite appeal, then just grab a book from the library, or go along to a trendy night in Shoreditch to enjoy a sneaky glass of wine (or four..) along with some exclusive readings. The worst that can happen is writers’ block or a disappointing ending – and it’s worth it.
However, e-books and ridiculously short stories aside, paper and ink books are rapidly increasing in popularity. In popular media, this is reflected in the Channel 4 programme, TV Book Club, which was first aired at the end of January. The premise of the show involves Gok Wan, along with other celebrities including Jo Brand, Dave Spikey, Nathaniel Parker and Laila Rouass, discussing and reviewing a different book each week. The term ‘celebrity’ may be a tad tenuous here, but nonetheless, with the debut episode reaching an impressive daytime peak average audience of around 350,000 viewers, this televised book club highlights a new popular interest in reading, and the beginning of a literary resurgence for this generation.
It’s not, however, simply the reading aspect of literature that has proved popular so far this year – creative writing is making a comeback. The importance of introducing creative and imaginative outlets early on can be seen in the launch of the Young Writers’ Award. Former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo, with the support of the musical Wicked, is launching this contest as a re-embodiment of the WH Smith Young Writers’ Competition, which was discontinued twenty years ago. Clearly the relevance of creative writing is being placed in the foreground – and, if you need any more convincing, well-known previous winners of this contest include Helena Bonham Carter and Kate Beckinsale; clearly proof that it pays to be poetic.
If this seems a little too childish – to be fair, the competition is open to those as young as five – then there are more sophisticated literary trends also on the rise, providing a more adult approach to literature. The most successful of these appear to combine a social night out with a passion for reading – and a dash of alcohol for good measure, of course. An example of these modern literary endeavours is apparent in the book-reading nights that are held at Shoreditch House Literary Salon in east London – a place which claims that ‘not since the Marquis de Sade has reading been this sexy.’ Cocktails and Coleridge – sounds like the making of a great night to me. And, according to Facebook at least, over 1,500 people agree. The future of book clubs may lie in these ‘literary salons’ – showing that literature can evolve in a way that makes it both approachable and enjoyable, and not simply for an educational environment… Thank goodness.
On a smaller scale, or within our own campus, to be specific, the effects of this literary revival can clearly be seen. At York, the English department has introduced an annual anthology, The Looking Glass, and there is even a newly founded Creative Writing society. Combined with the increased interest on a national scale, this could mark the beginning of an entire literary revolution – or make reading and writing a little more popular, at least.
But why is creative writing making such a comeback? Former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo believes that “it allows people to really say what they want to say and in a form that suits them. It's not a rigid rule that they need to follow or something they have to do to get to the next stage of their education. It's much freer and allows them to be themselves perhaps.” Michael also feels that not only is creative writing experiencing a revival, but creativity of all kinds may benefit from this new-found interest, saying that “most of us find our own creative outlet, that suits our feelings. Some will do it by writing, some by talking, some by dancing and painting. I think it's something about freedom to express.”
Yet can this resurgence be maintained? Michael believes that unfortunately “we are still hamstrung by the limitation of the testing and exam system in schools which very often smother creativity”, perhaps threatening the future of the interest in writing. However, he also extols the virtues of encouraging personal writing, explaining that “it's a good sign that an award such as Wicked Young Writers has been established to allow young people to write what they want to write and have an outlet for creativity.”
So, what are you waiting for? All you have to do is pick up a pen, or even get on your phone, in the case of Txt Lit. You might just have the opportunity to win some cash for yourself as well! And if writing doesn’t quite appeal, then just grab a book from the library, or go along to a trendy night in Shoreditch to enjoy a sneaky glass of wine (or four..) along with some exclusive readings. The worst that can happen is writers’ block or a disappointing ending – and it’s worth it.
Monday, 15 March 2010
First Steps
For Vogue competition; the theme was 'a personal memory'
My very first word was ‘shoe’. It was clear and distinct, and I’m assured that my mother didn’t translate some vague shoe-sounding word into the real thing - it was truly the word ‘shoe’. I had just been given my first pair - or the first pair I could actually wear, at least. My parents had already purchased little pairs of Doc Martens and Converse that I was yet to grow into; clearly my fascination with fashion was thrust upon me at an early age. I still absolutely adore shoes, and am the proud owner of a wardrobe full of fabulous footwear. Unfortunately, much like when I uttered my first word, I am still unable to master walking - in high-heels, at least. Yet, there seems to be something magical about childhood memories that have made an imprint on our adult life.
When I was younger we had a larder under the stairs, with a little mesh-covered window facing onto the garden, keeping it cold. I loved this larder, covered in glow-in-the-dark moons and stars, and I would go and sit in it during every single game of hide-and-seek, without fail. I may have often been the first one found, but I didn’t care - this was before I discovered my competitive nature, which made its first appearance but a few years later. I could’ve spent light-years in there, with those glow-in-the-dark stars; journeying through space, discovering unknown planets - and stealing cake, of course. My mother was an avid baker, and so we’d constantly have mountains of delicious, freshly made cakes and breads piled up in the larder. She would always encourage us children to help her bake a cake - and then have a mental breakdown and send us all away again half-way through, when we had icing sugar in our hair, up our noses, and pretty much everywhere but on the cake. I still enjoy a spot of baking every now and again - although nowadays I manage to keep the ingredients in the bowl and out of my hair. Well, most of the time, anyway.
The potting-shed in our back garden, which was lovingly referred to as my Wendy House, was another place where I spent many happy hours. My mother had painted the walls so it would look like the inside of a real house, with drawn-on kitchen worktops, and a dining room table and chairs. Tragically, I took the ‘real house’ element slightly too far, and tried to wash down the table and sides with a soapy cloth. This meant the walls looked less like a real house, and more like a poor imitation Picasso painting - but I loved it anyway - I just didn’t clean it again. Unfortunately this horrific ordeal stayed with me, as even to this day I often refuse to do any cleaning and tidying, all because of this childhood trauma.. Ahem.
The Wendy House led out into the back garden, where I would play with my little brother and sister, Arthur and Annie, all summer long. To be honest, this would often consist of me watching Annie picking up snails, licking them, and putting them back, or trying to stop her from eating ladybirds (or her own foot). Luckily, our sisterly adventures now consist of shopping and Starbucks, rather than snails and saliva; although she continues to have an adventurous palate, to this day.
My first ‘boyfriend’ was called Charles. He was the typical class stud, even at the tender age of seven - blonde hair, blue eyes, and absolutely no brains whatsoever. He also had a rather runny nose, that I never saw completely dry. Not quite what I look for in a boyfriend these days, but it worked a charm in primary school. He gave me my first kiss, and I taught him the alphabet. How romantic. Although to be fair, nowadays I have to teach boyfriends a lot more than just the alphabet - no, you can’t put a metal can in the microwave, and yes, pasta needs to be cooked in water. I suppose some things never change.
I always did like to be in charge of the kitchen; or of my own play kitchen and oven, at least. As well as making a multitude of meals using only leaves and grass - a right little Nigella Lawson already - I also enjoyed lying with my head in the oven. I honestly don’t know why I did this; personally I like to think of it as showing my literary tendencies at a young age already - perhaps more Plath than Lawson. All I can hope for now is that I’ll manage to have more success in my literary endeavours than I gave myself credit for as a six-year-old…
My very first word was ‘shoe’. It was clear and distinct, and I’m assured that my mother didn’t translate some vague shoe-sounding word into the real thing - it was truly the word ‘shoe’. I had just been given my first pair - or the first pair I could actually wear, at least. My parents had already purchased little pairs of Doc Martens and Converse that I was yet to grow into; clearly my fascination with fashion was thrust upon me at an early age. I still absolutely adore shoes, and am the proud owner of a wardrobe full of fabulous footwear. Unfortunately, much like when I uttered my first word, I am still unable to master walking - in high-heels, at least. Yet, there seems to be something magical about childhood memories that have made an imprint on our adult life.
When I was younger we had a larder under the stairs, with a little mesh-covered window facing onto the garden, keeping it cold. I loved this larder, covered in glow-in-the-dark moons and stars, and I would go and sit in it during every single game of hide-and-seek, without fail. I may have often been the first one found, but I didn’t care - this was before I discovered my competitive nature, which made its first appearance but a few years later. I could’ve spent light-years in there, with those glow-in-the-dark stars; journeying through space, discovering unknown planets - and stealing cake, of course. My mother was an avid baker, and so we’d constantly have mountains of delicious, freshly made cakes and breads piled up in the larder. She would always encourage us children to help her bake a cake - and then have a mental breakdown and send us all away again half-way through, when we had icing sugar in our hair, up our noses, and pretty much everywhere but on the cake. I still enjoy a spot of baking every now and again - although nowadays I manage to keep the ingredients in the bowl and out of my hair. Well, most of the time, anyway.
The potting-shed in our back garden, which was lovingly referred to as my Wendy House, was another place where I spent many happy hours. My mother had painted the walls so it would look like the inside of a real house, with drawn-on kitchen worktops, and a dining room table and chairs. Tragically, I took the ‘real house’ element slightly too far, and tried to wash down the table and sides with a soapy cloth. This meant the walls looked less like a real house, and more like a poor imitation Picasso painting - but I loved it anyway - I just didn’t clean it again. Unfortunately this horrific ordeal stayed with me, as even to this day I often refuse to do any cleaning and tidying, all because of this childhood trauma.. Ahem.
The Wendy House led out into the back garden, where I would play with my little brother and sister, Arthur and Annie, all summer long. To be honest, this would often consist of me watching Annie picking up snails, licking them, and putting them back, or trying to stop her from eating ladybirds (or her own foot). Luckily, our sisterly adventures now consist of shopping and Starbucks, rather than snails and saliva; although she continues to have an adventurous palate, to this day.
My first ‘boyfriend’ was called Charles. He was the typical class stud, even at the tender age of seven - blonde hair, blue eyes, and absolutely no brains whatsoever. He also had a rather runny nose, that I never saw completely dry. Not quite what I look for in a boyfriend these days, but it worked a charm in primary school. He gave me my first kiss, and I taught him the alphabet. How romantic. Although to be fair, nowadays I have to teach boyfriends a lot more than just the alphabet - no, you can’t put a metal can in the microwave, and yes, pasta needs to be cooked in water. I suppose some things never change.
I always did like to be in charge of the kitchen; or of my own play kitchen and oven, at least. As well as making a multitude of meals using only leaves and grass - a right little Nigella Lawson already - I also enjoyed lying with my head in the oven. I honestly don’t know why I did this; personally I like to think of it as showing my literary tendencies at a young age already - perhaps more Plath than Lawson. All I can hope for now is that I’ll manage to have more success in my literary endeavours than I gave myself credit for as a six-year-old…
Saturday, 6 March 2010
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
The Miracle of... Cheesecake
It’s every student’s nightmare. Your housemate’s family (siblings, grandparents and second cousin once removed included) are coming up for a few days, and it’s your job to impress them. You had a heavy one at Willow the night before, so your conversational skills might not be enough to carry you through. That hangover means you’re also not looking so great, so no wowing them with your dazzling beauty.
There’s only one thing for it. Food. Now, Morrisons’ value digestive biscuits and a cup of tea aren’t quite going to cut it; it’s time to bring out the big guns. Or the big chocolate cheesecake, to be exact. It’s ridiculously simple to make, and doesn’t even involve using the oven. As well as that, it’s pretty cheap to make, and even tastes good with budget ingredients.
Basically, this cheesecake is guaranteed to make everybody love you. Although if your housemate’s family visit frequently, you may want to use light cream cheese, as each slice has about a million calories. Roughly.
Diet problems aside, it really is worth giving this cheesecake a shot. It’s easy, it’s cheap, and it tastes damn, damn good.
Miracle Cheesecake
Base:
75g crushed digestive biscuits (these actually can be Morrisons value..)
75g crushed shortbread biscuits
5 tablespoons melted butter
3 tablespoons caster sugar
Filling:
200g cream cheese
5 tablespoons caster sugar
100ml cream, whipped
Topping:
200g dark chocolate
200ml double cream
Preparation:
1. Find something to put the cheesecake in. A cake tin or casserole dish, or even a Tupperware box for those who rarely venture into the kitchen.
2. Mix together the biscuits, butter and sugar. Yes, it’s that easy. Place them into the dish and push them down to create a base. Then whack it in the fridge.
3. Now for the filling. This is slightly trickier. You have to beat the cream cheese and sugar together, then fold the cream in. Don’t worry though, folding is as hard as it gets.
4. Add this mixture to the top of the base, and put it all back in the fridge.
5. Finally, the topping. Heat up the double cream in a saucepan, and then pour over the dark chocolate. The cream will melt the chocolate, and you simply stir until you have a warm, chocolatey mixture. Yum.
6. Allow the mixture to cool slightly, and then pour it on top of the filling.
7. Pop it in the fridge, and take it out around 20 minutes before serving, so the chocolate topping can go a little gooey…
Now all is left to do is serve it up, with the optional extra of some vanilla ice cream (if you really want to impress!), smile politely, and bask in the glow of grateful faces and endless compliments. I would say that the leftovers make brilliant drunk food, but I’m afraid that from personal experience this is unlikely – you’ll be lucky if you get to lick the dish (or Tupperware!).
Good luck- not that you’ll need it!
There’s only one thing for it. Food. Now, Morrisons’ value digestive biscuits and a cup of tea aren’t quite going to cut it; it’s time to bring out the big guns. Or the big chocolate cheesecake, to be exact. It’s ridiculously simple to make, and doesn’t even involve using the oven. As well as that, it’s pretty cheap to make, and even tastes good with budget ingredients.
Basically, this cheesecake is guaranteed to make everybody love you. Although if your housemate’s family visit frequently, you may want to use light cream cheese, as each slice has about a million calories. Roughly.
Diet problems aside, it really is worth giving this cheesecake a shot. It’s easy, it’s cheap, and it tastes damn, damn good.
Miracle Cheesecake
Base:
75g crushed digestive biscuits (these actually can be Morrisons value..)
75g crushed shortbread biscuits
5 tablespoons melted butter
3 tablespoons caster sugar
Filling:
200g cream cheese
5 tablespoons caster sugar
100ml cream, whipped
Topping:
200g dark chocolate
200ml double cream
Preparation:
1. Find something to put the cheesecake in. A cake tin or casserole dish, or even a Tupperware box for those who rarely venture into the kitchen.
2. Mix together the biscuits, butter and sugar. Yes, it’s that easy. Place them into the dish and push them down to create a base. Then whack it in the fridge.
3. Now for the filling. This is slightly trickier. You have to beat the cream cheese and sugar together, then fold the cream in. Don’t worry though, folding is as hard as it gets.
4. Add this mixture to the top of the base, and put it all back in the fridge.
5. Finally, the topping. Heat up the double cream in a saucepan, and then pour over the dark chocolate. The cream will melt the chocolate, and you simply stir until you have a warm, chocolatey mixture. Yum.
6. Allow the mixture to cool slightly, and then pour it on top of the filling.
7. Pop it in the fridge, and take it out around 20 minutes before serving, so the chocolate topping can go a little gooey…
Now all is left to do is serve it up, with the optional extra of some vanilla ice cream (if you really want to impress!), smile politely, and bask in the glow of grateful faces and endless compliments. I would say that the leftovers make brilliant drunk food, but I’m afraid that from personal experience this is unlikely – you’ll be lucky if you get to lick the dish (or Tupperware!).
Good luck- not that you’ll need it!
Saturday, 27 February 2010
How to look good (almost) naked
Want to save money on make-up? There is a 100% foolproof way of managing this – buy less. I know it’s been said time and time again, but less really is more. And judging by the gaggle of high-heeled, mini-dressed girls you see falling out of Gallery every night, it seems that the message still hasn’t got through to a lot of women.
So, here’s a quick and easy guide to the mighty ‘less is more’ philosophy.
Firstly, skin is meant to look like skin, not the outside of an orange. I’m not saying that concealer or a light foundation are definitely no-go areas, but it should at least be the same colour as your face. The whole point is that it is meant to be unnoticeable – if you get complimented on your foundation, then you need to change it, pronto. As someone with extremely pale skin, I do understand the difficulty in finding the perfect colour; if you, like me, also look like an extra from a Tim Burton film, I would recommend Gosh foundation, in Porcelain. It’s practically white; brilliant.
Secondly, we arrive at the eyebrows, which are sadly often overlooked. Beware she who over-plucks; they may never grow back. And that isn’t a little horror story mothers tell their teenage daughters to stop them from growing up – it really is true. But the future aside, drawn-on eyebrows just aren’t attractive. And what happens when it rains?! Take a look at high fashion. Eyebrows are big, and look all the better for it. Although don’t get me wrong; monobrows will never, ever be sexy. As long as there are two of them, they’re (relatively) symmetrical, and they don’t look like two giant caterpillars taking over your face, then they’re probably okay. And remember, if you do take it a little too far, there’s always the option of a fringe. Phew.
So, moving down, we get to the eyes. The best thing about eye make-up is that you can easily achieve a natural look whilst actually using quite a few products. The most obvious of these is one that frequently tops ‘handbag essentials’ polls – mascara. Amazing. It’s like your eyelashes, but better! I don’t think I’ll ever get over the genius of that. But the beauty of mascara is that it can look natural if you use it well; clumps are really not a good look – people are scared of spiders. Even fake eyelashes can be used to achieve a subtle look; as long as they’re not four inches long and/or made of glittery feathers. Just remember to make it look believable. Secondly, a good liquid eyeliner drawn along the top of your lash-line; it shouldn’t be overly noticeable, but just make your eyelashes look darker and thicker. As my male housemate, who frequently dresses up in drag, likes to say, ‘I want some eyeliner, it just really makes my eyes pop’. If you are leaving your lips nude, then a subtle eye-shadow wouldn’t go amiss, but I’d beware of electric blue or canary yellow, unless it’s fancy dress.
Another item that is often considered a handbag essential; lipstick, or lip-gloss. I have to admit, this is the area where I tend to rebel against the ‘less is more’, and go for a bright red; Ruby Woo, to be specific. But everything in moderation – it’s okay to go a little bit over-the-top with one element of the makeup, I’m sure almost every woman knows to emphasise her best feature. As long as she doesn’t try to do this using lip-liner – something that only Italian porn stars should wear – then it’s all fair game.
And that’s it. Simple. I think the one thing to remember is that make-up was made to improve you, not as something to hide behind. Embrace your face – even your imperfections – and you’ll certainly look all the better for it, as well as saving a few pennies.
So, here’s a quick and easy guide to the mighty ‘less is more’ philosophy.
Firstly, skin is meant to look like skin, not the outside of an orange. I’m not saying that concealer or a light foundation are definitely no-go areas, but it should at least be the same colour as your face. The whole point is that it is meant to be unnoticeable – if you get complimented on your foundation, then you need to change it, pronto. As someone with extremely pale skin, I do understand the difficulty in finding the perfect colour; if you, like me, also look like an extra from a Tim Burton film, I would recommend Gosh foundation, in Porcelain. It’s practically white; brilliant.
Secondly, we arrive at the eyebrows, which are sadly often overlooked. Beware she who over-plucks; they may never grow back. And that isn’t a little horror story mothers tell their teenage daughters to stop them from growing up – it really is true. But the future aside, drawn-on eyebrows just aren’t attractive. And what happens when it rains?! Take a look at high fashion. Eyebrows are big, and look all the better for it. Although don’t get me wrong; monobrows will never, ever be sexy. As long as there are two of them, they’re (relatively) symmetrical, and they don’t look like two giant caterpillars taking over your face, then they’re probably okay. And remember, if you do take it a little too far, there’s always the option of a fringe. Phew.
So, moving down, we get to the eyes. The best thing about eye make-up is that you can easily achieve a natural look whilst actually using quite a few products. The most obvious of these is one that frequently tops ‘handbag essentials’ polls – mascara. Amazing. It’s like your eyelashes, but better! I don’t think I’ll ever get over the genius of that. But the beauty of mascara is that it can look natural if you use it well; clumps are really not a good look – people are scared of spiders. Even fake eyelashes can be used to achieve a subtle look; as long as they’re not four inches long and/or made of glittery feathers. Just remember to make it look believable. Secondly, a good liquid eyeliner drawn along the top of your lash-line; it shouldn’t be overly noticeable, but just make your eyelashes look darker and thicker. As my male housemate, who frequently dresses up in drag, likes to say, ‘I want some eyeliner, it just really makes my eyes pop’. If you are leaving your lips nude, then a subtle eye-shadow wouldn’t go amiss, but I’d beware of electric blue or canary yellow, unless it’s fancy dress.
Another item that is often considered a handbag essential; lipstick, or lip-gloss. I have to admit, this is the area where I tend to rebel against the ‘less is more’, and go for a bright red; Ruby Woo, to be specific. But everything in moderation – it’s okay to go a little bit over-the-top with one element of the makeup, I’m sure almost every woman knows to emphasise her best feature. As long as she doesn’t try to do this using lip-liner – something that only Italian porn stars should wear – then it’s all fair game.
And that’s it. Simple. I think the one thing to remember is that make-up was made to improve you, not as something to hide behind. Embrace your face – even your imperfections – and you’ll certainly look all the better for it, as well as saving a few pennies.
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Do e-books mark the beginning of the end for paper and ink?
“A room without books is like a body without a soul” - Do e-books mark the beginning of the end for paper and ink?
At the end of January this year, Apple unveiled their latest creation; the 'iPad'. The release of this planned tablet computer (or giant iPod touch, as most people have responded to it) coincided with a new Apple iBookstore, with the large screen of the portable iPad perfect for reading e-books. This is being hailed as the start of the ‘e-book revolution’, leading the way for generations to come. However, does this mark the beginning of the end for physical, paper and ink books?
In order to consider this concept, it seems important to compare the production of electronic books to the recent revolution of electronic music players; most obviously, the iPod. When the iPod was first released, I was one of those people who refused to buy in, arguing that nothing could compare to having a physical CD collection, which you could proudly display, and look at lovingly. Then I got an adorable, baby-blue iPod mini for Christmas, and I never looked back. There are just so many benefits to storing music electronically: you don't have to fiddle around making mix CDs, you can just have a playlist; it's compact enough to take to the gym, and won't skip when you run; and, the most obvious benefit, you can carry around hundreds of albums in a little, tiny piece of technology! I've got to admit, even as a bit of a technophobe, I was extremely impressed. And I wasn't the only one; as of January this year, over 240,000,000 units have been sold worldwide. I'm no sales expert, but I'm pretty sure that, in technical terms, that's 'a helluva lot'. So, the question is, will e-books manage to match this success?
On the one hand, e-books do have their plus points. In terms of using them for work, it makes finding references infinitely easier. Gone are the days of actually having to read through texts over and over to find that five word quote you desperately need; simply ctrl + f and bingo, it finds it for you. Definitely an advantage for essay writing students, but would this really be relevant to those who read books simply for pleasure? Perhaps one of the benefits of e-books for these types of readers is the ability to carry around hundreds of pieces of literature simply within one book-sized article - and yet, this logic seems flawed. Although it is true that this technology makes it easy to bring multiple books outside the house, it must be questioned whether this ability is actually necessary; how often does one person read through ten or twenty books in one day? With the iPod, the means to store hundreds of musical tracks is clearly beneficial, as an album is (on average) around 45 minutes long, and one may wish to pick and choose from a large range. In comparison, I’m sure even the speediest reader would struggle to read more than two books per day. Similarly, the size of the iPad is an important factor. It measures 9.6” by 7.5” - the same size as your average book, if not a fair bit larger. One of the benefits of the iPod was the ability to cut down on space in your bag; no need for CDs or CD walkman, simply pop in the iPod and there we go. However, in terms of e-books, a reader would save no space at all by replacing their book with the iPad (unless it was War and Peace of course, and, let’s be honest, how many commuters have you seen reading that?).
Another consideration to be taken into account is not only what won’t be gained by investing in an iPad, but also what will actually be lost. This may sound a little shallow, but every time I spend a ridiculous amount of money on a book, I feel safe in the knowledge than one day I will have a wonderful collection of literary classics (as well as the odd untouched reference textbook!) adorning my shelves, for every guest to see. There is a certain element of joy in a good book collection; one that may be lost if reduced to simply scrolling down a list of titles on a large screen. I also dreamily look to the future, where I can pass on all of these books to my children, and they may pass it on to theirs, and a family library will be made. These books may be the heirloom of times to come. With the iPad, however, this passing on of books becomes null and void. Although it may be beneficial for the manufacturer, who would now have a monopoly on selling their particular book, the inability to sell or pass on books is clearly unfortunate for the consumer. This would not only affect the dreamy romantics planning to keep the texts for generations, such as myself, but would also be financially devastating for students who plan to sell on their used textbooks at the end of each year, as well as the students who will no longer be able to buy these used books at second hand prices.
Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, the emotional connection found with books in a physical form is not merely associated with the sheer pride of having a grand book collection, but also with particular books themselves. Personally, I think this is the true reason why e-books will never completely replace physical books, and for me, they could never even compete. Every time I settle down to my old, battered copy of Frankenstein, I find myself reminded of every other time I settled down to my old, battered copy of Frankenstein. I love the little notes written at the side, certain pages folded over, tea spillage stains and slight rips and tears all over. In my opinion, that is the sign of a well-loved book, and I can’t imagine the effect on literature if this aspect of reading were to be lost. When it comes to my books, the worse the condition, the more times it’s been read and, therefore, the better it must be. And I don’t think the iPad would be able to take that much damage.
At the end of January this year, Apple unveiled their latest creation; the 'iPad'. The release of this planned tablet computer (or giant iPod touch, as most people have responded to it) coincided with a new Apple iBookstore, with the large screen of the portable iPad perfect for reading e-books. This is being hailed as the start of the ‘e-book revolution’, leading the way for generations to come. However, does this mark the beginning of the end for physical, paper and ink books?
In order to consider this concept, it seems important to compare the production of electronic books to the recent revolution of electronic music players; most obviously, the iPod. When the iPod was first released, I was one of those people who refused to buy in, arguing that nothing could compare to having a physical CD collection, which you could proudly display, and look at lovingly. Then I got an adorable, baby-blue iPod mini for Christmas, and I never looked back. There are just so many benefits to storing music electronically: you don't have to fiddle around making mix CDs, you can just have a playlist; it's compact enough to take to the gym, and won't skip when you run; and, the most obvious benefit, you can carry around hundreds of albums in a little, tiny piece of technology! I've got to admit, even as a bit of a technophobe, I was extremely impressed. And I wasn't the only one; as of January this year, over 240,000,000 units have been sold worldwide. I'm no sales expert, but I'm pretty sure that, in technical terms, that's 'a helluva lot'. So, the question is, will e-books manage to match this success?
On the one hand, e-books do have their plus points. In terms of using them for work, it makes finding references infinitely easier. Gone are the days of actually having to read through texts over and over to find that five word quote you desperately need; simply ctrl + f and bingo, it finds it for you. Definitely an advantage for essay writing students, but would this really be relevant to those who read books simply for pleasure? Perhaps one of the benefits of e-books for these types of readers is the ability to carry around hundreds of pieces of literature simply within one book-sized article - and yet, this logic seems flawed. Although it is true that this technology makes it easy to bring multiple books outside the house, it must be questioned whether this ability is actually necessary; how often does one person read through ten or twenty books in one day? With the iPod, the means to store hundreds of musical tracks is clearly beneficial, as an album is (on average) around 45 minutes long, and one may wish to pick and choose from a large range. In comparison, I’m sure even the speediest reader would struggle to read more than two books per day. Similarly, the size of the iPad is an important factor. It measures 9.6” by 7.5” - the same size as your average book, if not a fair bit larger. One of the benefits of the iPod was the ability to cut down on space in your bag; no need for CDs or CD walkman, simply pop in the iPod and there we go. However, in terms of e-books, a reader would save no space at all by replacing their book with the iPad (unless it was War and Peace of course, and, let’s be honest, how many commuters have you seen reading that?).
Another consideration to be taken into account is not only what won’t be gained by investing in an iPad, but also what will actually be lost. This may sound a little shallow, but every time I spend a ridiculous amount of money on a book, I feel safe in the knowledge than one day I will have a wonderful collection of literary classics (as well as the odd untouched reference textbook!) adorning my shelves, for every guest to see. There is a certain element of joy in a good book collection; one that may be lost if reduced to simply scrolling down a list of titles on a large screen. I also dreamily look to the future, where I can pass on all of these books to my children, and they may pass it on to theirs, and a family library will be made. These books may be the heirloom of times to come. With the iPad, however, this passing on of books becomes null and void. Although it may be beneficial for the manufacturer, who would now have a monopoly on selling their particular book, the inability to sell or pass on books is clearly unfortunate for the consumer. This would not only affect the dreamy romantics planning to keep the texts for generations, such as myself, but would also be financially devastating for students who plan to sell on their used textbooks at the end of each year, as well as the students who will no longer be able to buy these used books at second hand prices.
Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, the emotional connection found with books in a physical form is not merely associated with the sheer pride of having a grand book collection, but also with particular books themselves. Personally, I think this is the true reason why e-books will never completely replace physical books, and for me, they could never even compete. Every time I settle down to my old, battered copy of Frankenstein, I find myself reminded of every other time I settled down to my old, battered copy of Frankenstein. I love the little notes written at the side, certain pages folded over, tea spillage stains and slight rips and tears all over. In my opinion, that is the sign of a well-loved book, and I can’t imagine the effect on literature if this aspect of reading were to be lost. When it comes to my books, the worse the condition, the more times it’s been read and, therefore, the better it must be. And I don’t think the iPad would be able to take that much damage.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
