The Teddies Review - Dec 2021

From the Editor

The Hidden Tax on Women

In this first edition of The Teddies Review, we’re going to discuss a broad range of topics, from dyslexia to the Pink Tax to Marvel ’ s cinema releases this year. Written by the students of St Edward ’ s, we hope to shed some further light onto these topics and many more. The year so far has been filled with twists, turns, and ups and downs, and with lockdown allowing us to reflect on ourselves, and the world around us, we have thought about things that we would normally be oblivious to. The Teddies Review aims to extend these thought processes further with a tri-annual publication of this journal.

The Pink Tax is an aspect of gender inequality that goes largely unnoticed by the media. But what actually is it? Why is it a thing? And, perhaps most crucially, how can you avoid it (as much as possible)?

The same but different

The Pink Tax is, in simple terms, the drastic difference in pricing between men’s and women’s toiletries, as well as the extortionate price of sanitary products such as tampons, pads, and sanitary bags. Which, if you ask any woman, are all essentials. The disparity in pricing ranges from sanitary products all the way to razors, soaps, and shampoos. For example, the average men’s razor is priced 6.28 percent less than women’s razors, and similar figures are present in items such as deodorant, moisturiser and many more. The difference in pricing, although widespread, can be perfectly demonstrated in the example of Schick Hydro razors. A pack of razor heads in a purple, “women’s", packaging is $18.49 whereas the exact same product in blue, "men's” packaging is $14.99. This doesn’t make any sense, right? S o, why is this even a thing? Well, the answer is as simple as one word: money. The necessity of things that are called “luxuries” are, and always will be, in high demand. This, then, increases the supply, which in turn increases revenue. A 2020 statistic states that the menstrual product industry worth $40 billion. Who knows what heights it has reached now? The industry of sanitary

What’s inside:

The Pink Tax – 2 The Anglo-French fishing crisis – 4 The year in Marvel – 6 Never-ending COVID? – 9 What remembrance means - 11 Radical freedom in a school – 13 Meet the new First Sea Lord – 15 Zimmer’s Dune score – 16 Diversity in media – 18 The year in sport – 19 Why philosophy matters – 20

The life of a dyslexic – 21 Mind over matter? – 22

Editors:

OB: bilgutayo@stedwardsoxford.org I L-D: llabresdiazi@stedwardsoxford.org KA: akhavanka@stedwardsoxford.org

Cover art by Jessica Pickering

products has thus created a perpetual cycle in which the industry always wins

Ways out of the problem

Now, onto the $40 billion question... How can The Pink Tax be avoided? There are three possible answers:

“Luxuries” you can’t live without

First, we ought to support companies who are actively working against this disparity and boycott the ones who are not.

Second, when purchasing items such as toys, toothbrushes, and razors, try, if you can, to buy gender-neutral products.

Sadly, however, the effects of The Pink Tax do not stop there. The Pink Tax is also the notion that sanitary products are “luxuries” and are therefore priced as such. Thus, the average woman will spend nearly £5000 on these products between the ages of 12 and 52. For those whose reproductive period is naturally longer, this number only increases. Women must pay thousands of pounds more than their male counterparts, simply on account of their biology. But this inequality does not however only apply to toiletries. Items such as toys, clothes, footwear, and more are priced at an average of 7 percent higher than the corresponding products for men. This shows that even from a young age The Pink Tax is subtly prevalent in women’s lives. Having to spend huge amounts of money on necessities is exacerbated even more in light of an existing gender the pay gap. Currently, global statistics state that the average woman will earn $0.84 to an average man’s dollar. Bear in mind that this is an average , this means there are countless people earning even less.

Third, compare the prices between men’s and women’s products and sometimes choosing “men’s” products could be the cheaper option. There is a bright side to all of this. Many countries, such as the UK, Canada, India, Australia and Kenya are all striving to eliminate the tax imposed on these products, and therefore on menstrual cycles. Items are becoming less gendered, the prices are dropping, and, bit by bit The Pink Tax is disappearing.

by Oliver Bilgutay

Shocking Statistics

• 7% of women have suffered domestic abuse. • 3% of women 16-74 years old have experienced sexual assault. • 5% of women have had to endure stalking.

Women, therefore, are earning less and spending more… solely because they are women.

All have been true for the last 10 years.

•

Increasing security checks on vessels and trucks

The Anglo-French fishing crisis: plus ça change or a la mode? There has always been a rivalry between France and the UK (or, England before that). Brexit has only made these tensions worse. So, why were there so many issues when it came to be following the treaty for fishing? Are these just petty squabbles or genuine imperfections in their deal? Following Brexit, the UK and the EU decided on a system where EU boats needed licenses to fish in UK (and Jersey) waters, and vice versa. The tension between the two nations escalated mainly due to the fact that in early November the UK rejected dozens of French boats by refusing to give them licenses. The exact reasons for this refusal are unclear, but it was probably due to lack of evidence that they had fished in that area in the past (which is necessary to gain a license). At the same time, France seized a British trawler under the pretext that it was not in the EU list of vessels which had licenses to fish in French waters but was then released as the British government provided proof of its licensing.

•

Cutting the electricity supply to Jersey

These are not small matters. The UK responded by saying that if these retaliations were to take place, they would see it as a violation of the treaty and may do the same thing to EU ships in UK waters. The UK also stated that these threats, especially that of cutting the electricity supply to Jersey, were hugely disproportionate. The British came to see this as not some legalistic battle between the UK and Europe , but a millennia-old grudge match between the UK and France. It might well have been that other factors may have triggered this rather extreme response from l’Hexagon. This overreaction may have also been due to Aukus deal, between the UK and Australia. This deal was supposed to bring France fifty- six billion euros in exchange for sending twelve attack submarines to Australia. But this did not go as planned. Australia cancelled their purchase, even though France had started the construction, and instead decided they’d purchase eight nuclear powered submarines… from the US and the UK. This betrayal from Australia - and seeing the UK gain so much from France’s loss – would most likely have grated on Macron, and so led to more friction in maritime affairs. Another possible reason for this dispute may be the fact that the French presidential elections are getting near and Emmanuel Macron wanted to show a strong hand in the fight for their fishing rights. It’s a tale as old as democracy, that when it’s the time for Why are things so bad?

Sabre rattling

Although these actions seem like justifiable technicalities, as a result to this, France went on to make many threats about possible repercussions if more licenses were not granted to their boats. These threats were:

•

The prohibition of UK ships releasing nets in French waters

re-election , it’s time also to look statesman -like and firm. The wonder, though, is if it may have been a bit too firm…

From The Fringe:

"I think Chewbacca is French because he understands English but refuses to speak it." - Sameer Katz

The new normal

A Year of Staycations

The sad truth, however, is that this Brexit deal on fishing has pushed local fishermen and their businesses to collapse. This is because the documents needed to get licenses are made up of information which big trawlers routinely collect through automatic systems. However, this information is much more difficult for smaller vessels to provide. These requirements are needed for fishing on both sides of the channel, so, both French and British local fishermen are suffering the effects of this deal. Although this is, to me, just an exaggerated quarrel, it undeniably stemmed from important issues regarding the treaty. However, the argument only received this much attention because of the big threats (albeit with little follow up action), and it is a shame that the real complications arising from the deal have received less attention than the drama and stagecraft of it all. This deal needs to be updated in order to help smaller businesses survive, and, although France was a bit unreasonable, the UK needs to be careful not to antagonize EU countries. Since Brexit, they are out at it alone, and they’re treading on rather thin ice. By Josephine Page

A year of travel restrictions has made it hard for us all to get abroad this year. Summer holidays in Greece, ski trips in France, and that exotic wedding in Goa have been replaced by something much closer to home. There are four times as many Brits booking domestic holidays this year, whilst many others have simply postponed or cancelled their holiday plans. But where have we been staying? Here are the top five areas we all enjoy a staycation. In bold are the biggest attractions to be found there. 1. Cornwall - Eden Project 2. Devon - Dartmoor 3. The Lake District - Windermere 4. Dorset - Jurassic Coast 5. North Wales - Snowdonia National Park

however, justifies its place in “Phase 4” in the introduction of Widow’s sleeper-cell Russian family: her parents Red Guardian and Iron Maiden, and her sister, played by Teddies alumna Florence Pugh, who debuts as Yelena Belova

2021 in Film: The Marvel Cinematic Universe After a year of delays, closures and quarantines, 2021 finally saw the return of cinema and film. And, in the world of pop culture, 2021 kicked off “Phase 4” of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which introduces all-new characters, while familiar faces take up new identities after the events of Avengers: Endgame. By the end of the year, we will have seen the release of 4 Marvel films and 5 TV shows. While the TV shows have their fair share of exciting implications for the MCU, this piece will consider only the theatrical releases we’ve had thus far, and what’s to come. After a year of COVID-prompted delays, summer 2021 saw the long-anticipated arrival of Black Widow , a film starring the superhero of the same name. Black Widow kicked off Phase 4 with a relatively grounded character piece, as opposed to the upcoming havoc of dragons and kung-Fu (Shang-Chi), a race of god-like beings ( Eternals ), and the “multiverse” (Spiderman). While it does feel odd to describe a film in which the main protagonist is on the run from a skull-faced maniac with a giant tank as the “calm before the storm”, Black Widow is just that. The film takes place years before Black Widow ’s sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame, filling in the gaps of the Marvel narrative rather than pushing it forward. The film, with a seemingly pointless narrative, takes a character with no future and gives her a past. Black Widow , There will be spoilers … Black Widow

The plot itself feels derived of a half-hearted James Bond film, featuring glowing red vials and an army of evil assassins. The film culminates in the familiar superhero trope of hero and villain dramatically fighting in mid-air as debris crashes to the ground. That isn’t to say, of course, that Black Widow doesn’t feature its fair share of creative fight scenes: there’s a skirmish in a Hungarian kitchen, a mid-avalanche brawl, and a showdown on a bridge with the movie’s key villain, the faceless Taskmaster. Nevertheless, Black Widow succeeds in being an entertaining spy thriller with stand-out performances by David Harbour and Florence Pugh, which alone go lengths in justifying why film was made.

Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings

Being the first of anything comes with a great deal of pressure and responsibility. Black Panther was Marvel’s first film to celebrate black and African culture. Captain Marvel was Marve l’s first female -led project. Now , Shang-

Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings marks Marvel’s first Asian -led superhero film. While there of course have been characters of Asian descent within the Marvel Universe, they often act as sidekicks to the main hero, or merely as comedic relief. Shang-Chi, however, not only stars an Asian protagonist, but also a predominantly Asian cast, and its core themes are intrinsically linked with Chinese culture.

for Katy’s Chinese name. Accompanying the subtle references to Chinese culture is the very unsubtle inclusion of a dragon, which seems somewhat compulsory of an eastern- inspired Hollywood film. Regardless, family can be changed by grief. The well- choreographed action and charismatic cast make for an entertaining leap in the right direction for Asian representation. November 5th saw the debut of Marvel’s Eternals : a group of immortal super-beings who’ve hidden amongst humanity since the dawn of time. The film is spearheaded by acclaimed director Chloé Zhao who, as most recent winner of both Best Director and Best Picture Oscars, undoubtedly brings prestige and critical success into her ambitious Marvel debut. Eternals boldly introduces ten main characters in a story that spans over 7000 years. Zhao however is, at heart, an indie director. Her first three films, all meticulously paced, vividly explored urban American landscapes to better understand oppressed people surviving on the outer edges of society. So, what happens when the most humanistic of directors is let loose with superheroes? Unfortunately, a critical hit-and- miss. Eternals is currently the lowest-rated MCU film of all time on Rotten Tomatoes, breaking the record that Thor: The Dark World held for nearly a decade, and the only film with a “rotten” score. According to the critics, “Zhao’s trademark realism and semi- documentarian approach is gone, substituted by stiff fantasy exposition and blockbuster conventions.” Playing on such a Eternals

The film introduces Shang-Chi , portrayed by Simu Liu, who must confront his past when his father, the formidable crime-lord Wenwu, forcefully reunites him and his sister. Accompanying Shang-Chi is his friend Katy, played by Awkwafina, who, uncharacteristically for Marvel, provides a pointedly platonic counterpart to our main hero throughout the film. Despite a refreshingly grounded antagonist in Tony Leung’s Wenwu, the real villain of Shang-Chi is grief. Grief is what drives Wenwu to perform nefarious acts, even at the expense of his own children. In an earlier scene, one of the characters comments on how moving on from a loved one’s death is a Western idea. Shang- Chi’s subtle nods towards Chinese culture never feel forced or contrived - for example when Shang-Chi taking off his shoes before entering Katy’s home, Katy’s grandmother asking Shang-Chi when he and Katy are getting married, or when Wenwu asks

Brobdingnagian scale, it’s inevitably challenging to keep the focus at a human level. Shang-Chi makes for a fun and endearing story about how Zhao, though, does manage to translate some of her grounded storytelling into the film, devoting much of the runtime to introducing everyone and getting the team back together after centuries apart. At 157 minutes, Eternals is the MCU’s se cond-longest film after Avengers: Endgame . An ambitious story told on a profoundly cosmic scale, Eternals falls prey to the clichés of superhero storytelling, and, despite Chloé’s expertise, serves as a continuation of the Marvel formula, rather than a divergence from it.

be ambitious,” says director Jon Watts. Part of that ambition will be bringing across familiar faces from previous Spider-Man films who, until now, haven’t been a part of Marvel Studio’s interconnected MCU. Among others, the roster includes Alfred Molina’s Otto Octavius (aka Doctor Octopus), who formerly imperilled Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker way back in 2004’s Spider-Man 2. Among the returning cast are Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange , Zendaya’s MJ and Jacob Batalon’s Ned Leeds. Though the cast is speculated to include former Spider- Men Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire, the former has only denied these rumours, claiming "this is not something I'm aware I am involved in." Wether or not the actors will reprise their roles, only time will tell. Ultimately, 2021 will be a year of bombastic action. With a wide array of new and returning characters, suffice it to say there will be some heady, game-changing implications for the future of the Marvel Universe.

Spider-Man: No Way Home

By Kamran Akhavan

Looking ahead, December 17th will see the highly anticipated return of Tom Holland as Peter Parker in Spider-Man: No Way Home . Spider-Man, who was recently outed to the world as Peter Parker, asks Doctor Strange to help restore his secret identity with magic, which only leads to more dangerous repercussions, opening a multiverse of endless possibilities. Though the idea of a multiverse is not new to Marvel fans, having been explored in recent Disney+ shows such as Loki and What If … ? No Way Home will be the first theatrical acknowledgment of its existence, which bears exciting implications for the future of the MCU. “We’re definitely trying to

Blockbuster Hits

These are the top five highest grossing movies of 2021 (so far).

1. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings 2. Venom: Let There Be Carnage 3. Black Widow 4. F9: The Fast Saga 5. No Time to Die

virus would not result in the deadliest manifestations of infection that we have come so distinctly to expect – respirators, A&E, and life support. Over time, this virus will only trigger small surges of milder illness and once upon a day in the future, the coronavirus will become just like the seasonal flu

COVID: When Will It End?

Every day the media provides article after article about the newest COVID disaster or the latest deaths. Every day we are punched in the face with the prospect of a doomed future, waiting just around the corner. But is this really our reality? With the Christmas holidays around the corner, there’ll be stockings soon overflowing, the sound of jingle bells bouncing off the streets, and houses brimming with Christmas cheers and laughter. The future is looking bright and hopeful regardless of the past. With the heroic and speedy efforts at producing the vaccine, having been released just under a year ago, times are changing for the better and peoples’ frowns are hopefully, slowly, turning upside down. However, COVID will be with us for a long time yet, so what does our future actually look like? Should we be optimistic and expect to return to normalcy? Or, are we going to get more devastation, in which more lives will be lost, more lockdowns imposed, and Christmas heartlessly turned into a nightmare? The truth of the matter is that pandemics always end. However, i t isn’t just a vaccine that ends them - it’s our immune system. A deadly pathogen such as COVID-19 will stop spreading because most of the population are protected against it either because they’ve already had it (they’re inoculated), or they have been vaccinated. Therefore, our immune system adapts and learns how to fight against this pathogen so that the next time it enters our body, our cells know how to battle it. The The body finds a way

“Are we nearly there, yet?”

However, the question now turns to when this transition will take place? Unfortunately, not even the experts know – it’s a question scientists are working tirelessly to answer. Many of them, including Maria Van Kerkhove, the World Health Organization’s leadi ng coronavirus expert, had previously thought that we’d be out of this acute phase already. But it is clear that many countries, such as India, Austria, Slovenia, have entered yet another virulent wave, confirming over 1500 positive cases per million people. Hospitals have become congested with a steady pace of mostly preventable admissions. This has had the inevitable chain reaction of taking healthcare staff away from other services, resulting in the cancellations of screening and operations. Not as many people might be dying because of COVID, but it creates potential issues somewhere else – undiagnosed cancers, unsupported mental health cases, or unoperated tumours. The winter is looking gloomy, as it always does

for diseases, but this winter at least a COVID spike is not inevitable. Through decisive government action, clear messaging that the pandemic is not over, and high rates of vaccination, we can control the spread of this virus. By working together as a community, we can protect ourselves and each other and look forward to the bright future ahead of us.

Battle of the Social Networks

It’s been a funny old year in technology. On the one hand, with lockdowns and isolation, more and more of us have turned to a digital escape. In the UK, one study found that we were spending 40 percent of our day watching TV. But it’s not been only Bridgerton and Squid Game. We’ve also spent a lot of time on our phones and our smart gadgets. The question, then, is who are the winners and losers of the year in social media? Without a doubt, TikTok had a huge year. Given the slow death of Twitter’ s Vine app in 2016, it’s surprising that this 15 -second video app has done so well. The app only emerged in 2020, but now has 315 million installs. That’s meteoritic. Facebook did pretty well, too. Whilst Zoom and Houseparty were common, lockdown saw a 50 percent increase in messaging across Messenger and ( Facebook owned) WhatsApp . Twitter and Instagram both enjoyed an increase in users, but both suffered from a withdrawal of ad revenue and sponsorship. Instagram , especially, were hit hard as influencers left the app (or at least stopped paying) for ones like TikTok . Facebook was also targeted by many governments this year as a huge source of misinformation – even having a very public spat with the Australia. The Winners The Losers

By Isabel Llabres Diaz

The UK’s Travel Red List Has Returned

The new COVID variant, Omicron, is heightening concerns in Parliament due to its structure that allows for much easier transmission. It seems to have stemmed from South Africa with the first case being reported to the WHO on 24th November but now also it’s being traced in Hong Kong, Belgium, Botswana and Israel. This particular variant has since been investigated, with first signs showing that it may be able to potentially get past the vaccines too. Though it seems currently that there are no risks of the UK going into another lockdown with parliament officials stating that they are also feeling as though it is viable to avoid Plan B this winter. Steps are being taken to avoid Omicron from entering the UK with the re- implementation of the travel red list to countries that have signs of its presence. Thus, travellers from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini will no longer be able to enter the UK unless they are UK or Irish Nationals, or a UK resident. By Sasha Wolcroft

Watching the lines of red poppies strewn along churchyards and the plangent tones of the Last Post certainly does not suggest a celebration. There was a reason the Great War found its name, as this was the conflict that was supposed to have prevented any coming after it. But national remembrance, collective reminders of the horrors of war, can serve two purposes. Either to show the absurdity and futility of war itself with its incalculable loss, or somehow to encourage it as well. The same society that mourned the loss of millions on the fields of France after 1918 was the one that embarked (rightly) on a second fight on much of the same ground, just twenty-one years later. Britain is a country where the military culture, though much dimmed as its power has lessened, is still ingrained in the national fabric. Our annual display of Remembrance is populated by the military vigour and solemnity of our Armed Forces, the shining brass of the bands and the tales of many an imperial victory. Britain, then, has not decided what it is remembering for. Is it merely giving a polite farewell to the male- dominated, white, colonial world those who fought in the Army decades ago saw - the last rites of the British Empire? Not entirely. Denying remembrance for those who have fought in Afghanistan, Iraq, Northern Ireland or Europe would be spiteful to a malicious degree. To read the lists of the regiments of the Armed Forces, to go through the names, places of deaths, ages, locations, is to witness the charred family history of those who have served. To deny the chance to remember not only their service but the tangible sacrifices their deaths made will do nothing for changing

What Does Remembrance Mean in 21st Century Britain? What do we remember for? Is it merely an attempt not to forget, not to let the ashes of the past remain buried in the ground we stuck them in however long ago? Is it a natural human instinct to remember others in the vain hope that the same courtesy will be shown to us? Be it personal or national, our traditions and impulses often work in the same way - just as we remember a relative at a funeral, so too can a society remember a war, an independence day, or an anniversary. Once the tradition is set, or as the elaborate ceremonies become fixed, the first intentions lose their meaning. The years gnaw away at the initial idea and our current concerns are reflected in an act that happened long ago. Britain has had November 11 as a national day of remembrance since the end of the First World War. It remembers the Armistice signed at the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month, in 1918. For a conflict that claimed millions of lives in essentially fruitless campaigns, the moment that marked the sudden and complete end of the war was cruel in its abruptness. The most renowned British poet of that war, Wilfred Owen, had been killed a week before the signatures were written and the guns stopped firing. His mother received the news of her son’s death as the village church bells rang in celebration outside. Those church bells have rung around Britain ever since, on that same day, not in jubilation but in a mourning mixed with exultation.

our imperial perceptions or shifting that narrative. Where our remembrance culture fails is more in what is left unsaid. We hear little of the subjugation of the far-flung parts of the Empire which have been less covered by the history books, of the peoples for whom the valiant struggles of the British Army were not heroic but brutal, for the areas where the aim of battle was not liberation, but oppression.

the annual ceremony at the Cenotaph in Westminster. But whatever he felt or reflected on did not change his mind - British forces took part in the invasion and hundreds of them died in a conflict whose consequences are felt every day across the Middle East. Yet all those present knew that by remembering the sacrifice of former wars, their leader would be forced to contemplate the deaths and losses his decision would entail - the inevitable cruelty which ordering force entails. Much of the criticism of that war, fair or otherwise, was that it was a fundamentally colonial endeavour supported by a leader with a misplaced notion of Britain’s place in the world. Today, that notion is shaped much more by our idealisation of the past than by cynicism about the present. Dogmatic pacifism is no way to respond to a world where religious extremism and authoritarianism reign supreme across much of the globe. To confine any western power to impotence is to deny any real chance of the opportunities globalism has opened up across the last sixty years. Yet Britain is not the same country it was sixty years ago. It is high time to consider whether the flag waving and bombastic rituals of our today are true of the yesterday we so love to depict.

Present decline calls for a retelling of historical glory. Much of this country’s current status in the world is shown in how far our past is embedded into the national psyche - far more than the present, or in whatever aspirations to come. To admit that the Empire was a negative force would be to acknowledge an element our collective memory has so far forgotten. Like all of us, societies create myths to legitimize their present. The tales of glory and great sacrifice in a noble cause obscure the real reasons for going to war, as well as the less celebrated story of those who fell victim to imperial spoils. It is by telling their story - not merely that of the trenches, the ‘guns of August’, and the f lowing fields of Flanders poppies - that we would find a picture much more worthy of reflection.

By Patrick Maxwell

In late 2002, while deciding on the drastic course of invading Iraq, Tony Blair took part in

you want. It is to “transcend” the obligations and pressures of the world. And yet, a school acts in every moment to repress the freedom of its students. It treats the student as a pawn to move here and there, or as clay to be moulded. In existentialist language, it confines a person to “immanence” - where options are limited and where the very idea of freedom is confined to a box. Choice is fine, so long as it sticks resolutely within the bounds of a finite menu (the “school rules”). For Simone de Beauvoir, in her Ethics of Ambiguity , being forced to live in immanence is an evil prospect. Any person or body that seeks to limit our freedom is committing an immoral act. Were a school or teacher to “force” another person to do something, then they’d be behaving wrongly.

Radical Freedom in an Institution

To be a child is to be led by the hand. It’s to be told that this is what you should do and this is what you should say. A child’s world is reduced to what a parent or caregiver makes of it – where every major choice is filtered through mum and dad. When you have a question, they give you an answer, and that’s the truth of it. When you have a problem, they give you a solution, and everything’s better again. It’s life of contented objecthood. To be a child is to be pushed, carried, and steered – just as an object is. And it’s safe and happy. But then we grow up. Suddenly, the old answers and authority lose their gleam. To become an adult is to feel and enjoy the power of choice. It’s to recognise that a human life is not one of objecthood, but of radical freedom. As a child gets older, the easy and familiar ways are no longer appealing, because they are given and not chosen . So, what happens, then, when this transition from youthful objecthood to adult freedom happens in the middle of an institution like a school? What is it like to enjoy and recognise radical freedom in a world of “wear this”, “go there”, “don’t drink”, and “do your prep”? There’s something nefarious in the fetters a school places on choice. As French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre argued, to be authentically human is to choose freely the life Struggling against chains

Bad Faith

But this is not the full story, and it’s a disingenuous account of what school is. No school is a prison camp and holding another human against their will is a violation of both the law and their moral right to self- determination. What we often disregard is that every day we have a choice. In any given moment, a student is quite at liberty to walk out the door, to hop

on a train and could be in Latvia by evening – if they so wanted (and had the money). And so, Sartre would be the first to point out the complicity of students in their condition. He labelled those cases where we say we’re forced to do something (when we’re not, really) as “bad faith” . Bad faith are those moments in a person’s life where they refuse to accept responsibility for the situation, they are in. In very few moments in life is anyone (including a student) “made” to do something. To be authentically human, we ought to see th e choices that we’ve made. You choose to go to school. You choose to wake up early and go to period one. You choose to not do your prep. You choose to go the detention you receive. To avoid bad faith is to accept that we are the ones who have made the choices that brought us to this moment. The fact is, schools do not exist to entrap, diminish, and limit anyone. They are not institutions of immanence, as Sartre and de Beauvoir would see it. In fact, the opposite is true. For de Beauvoir, immanence means an inability to flourish as a human being. It means being reduced to an object. But (good) schools seek to give students the responsibility over their own actions, and to teach a crucial existentialist lesson: we are free to choose as we want, but this comes with consequences. Sartre once wrot e that we are, “condemned to be free” because with freedom comes responsibility, and with responsibility comes anxiety, pressure, and blame. Being an object is not authentic, but it is really easy. It’s easier to be told what to do and when to do it, than Responsibility and flourishing

to choose that yourself. So, some people, and some students, reduce themselves again to objects. They hide, again, in the “I have to do this” or “Miss made me do that”, because it’s the easier option than taking hold of life and directing it. It’s easier to blame a teacher, a parent, or a headmaster, than it is to blame yourself. But the hard wisdom of existentialism is that when you awake to how free you are, you also must take responsibility. Every action, every piece of work, and every word you say – you have chosen them. And all the reward and punishment, praise and blame, is yours alone.

By Jonny Thomson

Chess Puzzle

White to mate in one move. But which?

By Arya Cont

The New First Sea Lord …Wait…What’s a First Sea Lord?!

Is there a Second Sea Lord? What about a third or fourth and so on?

Yes, there is a Second Sea Lord – Vice Admiral Nicholas Hine. He has been the Second Sea Lord since April 2019. The Second Sea Lord oversees what is referred to as the Navy’s “people matters”, like recruitment, families, training, diversity, and welfare. Basically, he’s the Deputy Headmaster. However, there is no Third Sea Lord … technically. The title and office were abolished in 1965, and they are now called Controller of the Royal Navy. Vice Admiral Andrew Burns is the current Controller of the Royal Navy. Admiral Sir Ben Key’s previous role as chief of joint operations allowed him to be key in planning Operation Pitting, which saw over 15,000 British nationals and Afghans evacuated from Kabul. In an interview with Nick Childs, the senior fellow for naval forces and maritime security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank in London, Defence News has said that when Key was given the nod for the role, he said that he wanted to continue promoting the previous agenda of Admiral Sir Tony Radakin. “These include further developing the carrier strike capability and maritime aviation more generally,” he said, “taking the remodelling of the Royal Marines forward, especially given the recent controversies over this, and making sure that the Royal Navy continues to maintain its edge in underwater warfare .” Well, what is he going to do?

On the 8th of November, Admiral Sir Ben Key replaced Admiral Sir Tony Radakin as the First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy.

But what is a First Sea Lord? What does he do all day?

Well, they’re a member of the Defence Council, member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, and Chairman of the Royal Navy board. They’re responsible to the Secretary of State for overseeing the Royal Navy’s running, fight efficiency, morale, and maritime strategy … . just to name a few. When it was first introduced in 1689, it was titled Senior Naval Lord to the Board of Admiralty (for a bit of context, the Royal Navy was 143 years old at the time, the Army a mere 29, and the RAF would not be established until the end of the First World War some 229 years later – making the Roya Navy the oldest armed force we have). The title has been changed a couple times, but they settled on “First Sea Lord” in 1904. In short, he is in charge of the entire Royal Navy and has a lot of gold stripes on his uniform.

A rumour I have heard going around, however, that Key is to bring back epaulettes on the Number One uniform, instead of the officer’s rank being displaced on the sleeves, but this is yet to be confirmed. We look forward to seeing what Admiral Sir Ben Key will bring to the Royal Navy as the First Sea Lord and wish Admiral Sir Tony Radakin the best of luck in his new role as the Chief of Defence Staff.

The Otherworldly Sound of Dune : Hans Zimmer’s Score When approached to score Dune , acclaimed composer Hans Zimmer knew one thing with absolute certainty: it’s not going to sound like Star Wars. While those films’ scores were heavily influenced by the orchestral style of the classical era and early film music, Zimmer’s score for Dune jarringly becomes its own genre entirely. Zimmer’s predictably unpredictable music perfectly encapsulates the world of Dune : a world of intergalactic civilizations whose denizens seek to control the spice planet Arrakis. Hans Zimmer is often known for his more outlandish musical endeavours. His scores for Interstellar, the Lion King or Inception have gone lengths in reforming the 21st century musical paradigm. Zimmer’s style ranges from contemporary classical music to minimalistic ambience. “Weirdly, I’m the only rock ’n’ roller who never did any drugs,” said Zimmer in an interview. And while no hallucinogens were used in the making of Dune ’s score, it non - verbally communicates everything there is to know about the distant lands of Dune . In a way, as the composer stated, he has been working on this soundtrack ever since he first read the novel as a teenager. “I’ve been thinking about ‘ Dune ’ for nearly 50 years. So, I took it very seriously.” Zimmer was in fact so immersed in the world of Dune that he had to turn down other projects, such as Christopher Nolan’s TENET (2020). He additionally refused to watch the older 1948 film adaptation of the novel as to preserve his unique vision of the film’s score. As a part of

By Millie Cooper

Wher e’s Trump ?

He was meant to change the world completely. His presidency was billed as either the rebirth of America or the end times (depending on your politics). But since Biden has taken the Whitehouse, he’s been a bit ou t of the limelight. So where are you, Donald? Well, he’s there, but you can’t say he’s mainstream. He’s been banned from Facebook for two years, and only then if his “risk to public safety has receded.” Trump was characteristically furious about the decision, but he’s taken it in his stride. He calls into cable news shows, he has his own blog, and will pop up occasionally do some promos for products and people he likes. Trump hopes he’ll be the Republican nominee for President in 2024, saying he’ll get it “very easily”. It’s too early to tell who might challenge him, but old names like Mike Pence and Ted Christie can’t be ruled out. But also Trump’s old sparring buddy – Ted Cruz.

his creative process, Zimmer spent a week in Utah observing the sound of the desert. “I wanted to hear the wind howling,” he said, and accordingly, he cleverly integrates the sounds of the desert into his music. Along with synthesizers, Zimmer incorporates the sounds of scraping metal, Indian bamboo flutes, Irish whistles, distorted guitar, space bagpipes and a juddering drum phrase that Zimmer calls an “anti - groove,” all -in-all defying standard Western musical notation. Zimmer’s score is so prominent within Dune that the movie often feels like an otherworldly Planet Earth- esque spectacular. “ Dune is by far my most musical film,” said Denis Villeneuve. “The score is almost ubiquitous, participating directly in the narrative of the film. It’s spiritual.” In fact, Zimmer’s score is so comprehensive that he wrote way more music than could fit in the final film. The score necessitates not one, but three albums: the Original Soundtrack (the music heard within the film), the Dune Sketchbook (Zimmer’s extended experimentation with sound) and the Art and Soul of Dune (a companion soundtrack to a book of the same title), though there is still more written, hopefully for the sequel.

. “I felt very strongly about the presence of female voices,” Zimmer said. “I think the underlying game Frank Herbert plays with us is that what drives the story forward is really the wome n. They’re in charge, the Bene Gesserit [a tribe within the film]. It’s always a woman who seems to have the true strength in these stories.” The voice not only contributes to the on-screen story but becomes an inseparable part of it, and that’s because Zi mmer’s approach to scoring Dune wasn’t just about adding a layer. As Zimmer says, there was an utterly “holistic” approach to recording the film’s music, which had more to do with building the sounds from the ground-up, regardless of what was going to be used. To accomplish the unique sounds of the percussion and the voices for the score, Zimmer “made up a lot of new instruments [with] some crazy synthesizers. There are sounds that are not of humanity. I mean, with some rhythms — there’s no way a drummer co uld play that.” Villeneuve has repeatedly insisted that Dune is a multisensory experience that needs to be seen on the biggest possible screen in a cinema. In the same way, Zimmer’s score is one that demands to be experienced via a good sound system. As Zimmer puts it, “I write in surround sound — but it’s not just about the big sound and big screen, it’s about sharing something together. Shared dreaming.” Zimmer’s score goes lengths in completing Villeneuve’s vision for Dune , an becomes its own entity entirely; As the composer asserts: “If something happened where I couldn't write music anymore, it would kill me. It's not just a job. It's not just a hobby. It's why I get up in the morning.” By Kamran Akhavan

Intertwined in the score’s bizarre aura is a highly distinctive female voice, which serves as a motif that underlines most major plot points within the film

is no hope for change. Secondly, many BAME actors have reported that auditions are stressful because the casting director is already looking for a person, and so they are cast as extras or roles that are deemed to fit the stereotype of their race. The idea of casting a BAME lead is seen as so unnatural that it just doesn’t happen.

Where’s the Diversity on British Screens?

Though you would be forgiven for thinking that British media is paving the way in terms of representation for BAME actors and directors, there are still significant issues surrounding the lack of diversity on our screens Ofcom’s annual figures show that only thirteen percent of staff within the five major British media outlets - BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, and Sky - come from a black or ethnic minority. This figure might initially seem shocking but if you consider your daily television programming, it’s actually unsurprising - on any given day you would struggle to find a single BAME person. For example, in the evening you might expect to see the Hairy Bikers , Great British Railway , Carol Klein’s Gardens and Superstore , and in each you would struggle to find any forms of diversity. So, the question has to be asked is why the British media fail so badly at attracting greater diversity? Lenny Henry, a tireless advocate for representation, has openly said that the problem lies behind the camera. The number of BAME people working in the British film and television industry fell from 7.4 percent in 2009 to 5.4 percent in 2012, and the number is still thought to be declining. And the root cause? Money and bias. First, without the investment into providing all people, regardless of their skin colour, equal opportunities and so allowing everyone the resources to break into the mainstream, there Money and bias

The way out

So, what is being done? The BFI published diversity expectations after the shocking 2019 BAFTAs - where only three nominations were black or ethnic minority. They also provided a platform for education on the topic. However, Dr Clive Nwonka has since highlighted that six hundred films were made in Britain outside of the Diversity Standards system. There is a long way to go until BAME actors and crew have a seat at the table and so much more has to be done. So next time you’re watching TV note of how many people are BAME, it might shock you.

By Ruby Freeland

difficult first steps to change the stigma around elite sport and mental health. Another memorable moment was in the high jump, when Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim and Italian Gianmarco Tamberi shared their gold medal. This is what sport should be about. It’s highly likely that both will retire after the Olympics due to injuries, and so the gold for them meant that much more. In that moment, both jumpers epitomized the true spirit of the Games. In the Paralympic Games, GB successfully defended the mixed double sculls and the mixed coxed four. Both crews were dominant from the start and deserved their gold medals as they portrayed grit and determination. A particular mention to the coxed four as they remain undefeated since 2010 and secured GB’s third successive Paralympic title in the boat class. For some, this year has been a steep downfall, but for Emma Raducanu it has been the year of her dreams. This 18-year-old seemingly breezed to victory over Leylah Annie Fernandez in two easy sets (6-4, 6-3) to become the first British woman to win a grand slam title since Virginia Wade’s Wimbledon victory in 1977. On top of this, she is the first qualifier to win a slam title, and at only a mere 18 years of age, she is the youngest grand slam champion winner since Maria Sharapova in 2004. Watching this impressive girl refuse to lose and hit each shot as if it was her last was inspirational, and one I look forward to continuing watching. Currently seeded No 22 Overall the Olympics was a tremendous success for GB and I’m sure I’m not the only one already excited for Paris 2024 Tennis

The 2021 Sport Report: a Good Year for Britain 2021 shall be remembered as the continuation of life after COVID. Lockdowns, restrictions, and unfair adjustments have impacted sports in every possible way. Luckily for the avid sports fans, things are slowly returning to normal and thankfully (for me anyway) I have some sports reports to offer you. Hurrah! The Olympic year is one I always eagerly await. However, Tokyo 2020 was different. Stadiums lay empty and spectator seats were getting cold. It was obvious that athletes missed the thunderous cheers of their supporters – this should have been the most celebrated and glorious moments of their careers. Their nations were supporting them, of course, but it was just behind the screens, in living rooms. Special mention to Adam Peaty who made history as he became the first British swimmer to defend an Olympic title. He remains unbeaten since 2014 and is now a double Olympic gold champion. Simone Bile’s withdrawal from the all -around team competition due to mental health concerns is something that won’t be forgotten soon. She openly discussed her reasons for withdrawing in front of reporters and, as a result, received applause and respect from all around the world. While she failed to obtain a medal, she is a winner in the eyes of many. She put her mental health first and made the The Olympics

in the world, she will be eagerly training for the Australian Open to continue climbing the ladder. Whatever happens, we are proud of you, Emma!

What’s the Point in Philosophy?

I didn’t realise philosophy had certain stigmas until someone bluntly asked me: “ Isn ’ t philosophy kind of useless? ” , after having said that I enjoyed the subject. I sadly found that I was unable to answer their question and I started to wonder, “ what is the point in philosophy? ” . Although you ’ ll likely suspect I ’ ll carry on this article by saying, “ what ’ s the point in anything? ” , that is not the direction I will take. Instead, I ’ ll answer this question by giving you my own argument as to why philosophy is, shockingly, not useless. Firstly, in order to understand its use, we should understand what it is. Philosophy is simply a way for different people to answer the same questions. Of course, there is more to it than that but, I believe that is what it ultimately comes down to. Yet this isn ’ t just thinking, it is philosophy. Answering these questions requires deep thought which leads philosophers to inevitably base their thinking on their individual beliefs, values and cultural backgrounds, even when they don ’ t try to. This is what makes objectivity so hard to achieve. Personally, that is the aspect that interests me - comparing the various answers and opinions of different individuals, as they desperately try to fight subjectivity and so that their answers can be considered universally correct. However, what makes it fascinating, as a student and reader, is witnessing the very thing they try to avoid. The compelling part of Witnessing a way of thinking

A busy year

Ex-swimmer, Lucy-Charles Barclay crushed the elite field by winning the 2021 Ironman 70.3 World Championship, held in St. George, Utah. Her rivals were left far behind during this 1.9km swim, 90km bike and 21.1km run as she finished over eight minutes ahead of her competitors. Having won several silver medals in the past for this event, the gold medal meant that much more for her, and she celebrated it in style.

But it has not all been gold medals and grand slam victories. Remembering a gloomier moment, one of the biggest defeats of the year must be the unfortunate final of the Euros. England was denied history as Italy stole the trophy during penalties, defeating England 3-2. There is much hope for England in the following Euros which will take place in Germany, 2024 as well as the FIFAWorld Cup in Qatar, 2024. It has been a year filled with hope and optimism. Sports has provided a returned sense of normalcy for many, as we slowly return to pre- COVID times. Let’s all continue supporting our athletes as we shift our focus to rugby… By Isabel Llabres Diaz