Archive | November, 2009

New pebble, new problems?

30 Nov

Again this morning I awoke to feeling of overwhelming dread and suspense that would only be eradicated once I got my grubby little mits on the Nov issue of the Pebble. I am always excited to see what the paper will look like, expecting that it will be better than before and hoping that everyone else likes it as much as I do. Not that I get to hear the comments!

First impressions… good. Bulkier, but the content is much better than before. Meatier might be the word of choice, more for all kinds of students to sink their teeth into. The fact we have a response to a previous article shows the readership is growing. I am also much happier with my pages, but most of that falls to the writers for providing such good articles (particulary the article about HR Giger lol). So glad the photography came out well, I think having at least 2 images per article really helps the pages look good and read well. However, on closer inspection the layout has again opened a few problems, omissions (including an ad I placed for help with my dissertation) and wide open spaces in some cases. It appears this was felt by the whole team, so design needs to be investigated for future issues. But overall I am definatly proud of the whole thing, we have all put in a lot of hard work and should be proud of ourselves.

But on a much sadder note… Joel is leaving the SU for another job! This means the whole project now rests on the editing teams shoulders. Martin has offered to be the coordinator for the whole project, which means most of the communication between the outside world, the SU and the team will be via him (otherwise things could get messy). He is also pushing forward taking the Pebble live online, which will be fantastic. Otherwise, it means more pressure and responsibilities for us. I hope the whole thing doesn’t go downhill after Joel’s departure. But I am sure Martin can keep in sense of humor, sometimes I wonder if I take the whole thing a little too seriously…

Anyway… best of luck Joel, I am sure we will survive without you!

Once a copy is available online, I will post up for your viewing pleasure. Otherwise… its in the post yeah?

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DJ Hero

29 Nov

Perusing the leaflet stack while having an tipple on a rainy Sunday afternoon; I came across a promo book for a recently released game DJ Hero. In my typical gender based game analysis that is based on my imagination, I initially blasted the concept, complaining developers will make a game out of anything.

This preconception was further solidified when I started reading the promotional wanky literature, filled with gems like; “You’re going to buy DJ Hero because its… well, brilliant. Don’t fight it. Its got cooler mates than you have, and you’ll only improve you social station by hanging round with it.” Yes, a overpriced chunk of plastic that will be eventually used as a book rest defiantly has higher social credentials than I have. Much more than if I actually purchased a pair of 1210′s. Maybe that is the reason Technic’s production line is coming to an end; the kids decided it would be much cooler than to learn how to pretend to be a DJ, with someone elses generic commercial play lists, rather than experience the pure euphoria of finding a track on vinyl that you have been searching for what feels an eternity and then share your joy with an empty dance floor at a house party.

Maybe I am being too hasty. Besides, if DJ Shadow hand picked the soundtrack it can’t all be that bad eh? Well, there are at least 4 tracks from each of the artists that were generous enough to provide themselves as avatars. One one hand, you can play as Daft Punk, the most elusive yet omnipresent DJ’s on the planet, or Eminem who has also, like you, has probably never touched a cross fader in his life. I also can’t imagine a better floor filler than the mighty Vanilla Ice vs Paula Abdul. It sounds a bit too much like Simon Cowell has stuck his grubby mits another musical money pie.

The game has got a wealth of turntable and musical genius’s interweave into the program. The one and only Grandmaster Flash provides the narration for the tutorial, and it looks like you might need him. It looks bloody impossible. Maybe it might be easier to actually learn how to mix?

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gender gender gender…

27 Nov

Uni work is kind of taking over my life. Not just in a typical third year way. The days spent hanging out in the gender section of the library are really taking their toll. I love gender studies, the way that men and women see and interact with each other in a never ending struggle between matriarchy and patriarchy is fascinating to me.

However, the endless amounts of books that I am reading about masculinity in all its forms are not only infiltrating my brain, but are seeping out into any other conversation I may have in the real world. Generally it all boils down to sex, but with words like ‘castration’, ‘phallic power’ and ‘emasculated’ providing a saucy icing. After Tuesdays lecture, when after work drink conversation turned onto the subject of Twilight, where I went to explain why women were so obsessed with Vampire culture (something along the lines of wanting to drink the blood of the glamorous image they want to be like, thus becoming vampires themselves), which was met with raised eyebrows and silence. Its great that I am digesting all this critical theory. It’s not so great to verbally regurgitate the contents of this delightful meal on the unsuspecting public.

Furthermore, because I am constantly reading about it, I am constantly thinking about it, thus sex is forever on the brain. It is really hard not to when reading things like The Male Body by Susan Bordo or Female Desire by Rosalind Coward. But then sex is everywhere to be readily digested in culture anyway. Too much for my little brain (and my ovaries). Too much as well for the sufferers of my sexually deconstructive ramblings all around me. Over analyzing, is not a good thing.

Maybe I should stick to portait miniatures. And then overanalyse how we frame and view everything. Then I really will lose all my friends.

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Fake Blood – gourgetastic!

13 Nov

Last night was an event I have been looking forward to for a very long time; Fake Blood at Digital. I have been a fan of this DJ for quite a while (as well as his part of his collective work with the Black Ghosts), and a previous set earlier in the year was one of my favourite gigs of the year.

The club was packed with perky pulsating students – bar a few old stragglers (bad auntie being one of them). The girls with their primed hair were donning fake blood over their over perfected faces (much to our amusement), and which would eventually be dripping off the walls – it was completely a sweat pit.

Mr Blood himself? Majestic. No words to describe the phatness transcending from his fingers, so you dance like a raving loon to it instead, becoming crazier as the night drew on.  At points he build with a pulsating techno tune, but dropping an almighty raving base wobbler (you might be forgiven for thinking the subs were fans until you realized they stole your eardrums). He even possessed a slick remix of ‘Cyrstalised’ by the XX, which scores him extra respect points with the Brightonians. Initally ending on a smart reedit of Mars, he was encored a record 5 times, surreally mashing up Abba (the kids loved it). And judging by the smile on his face, I think he likes us too.

Nothing like a good dance to great music to make you feel alive. Though many of my moves would not had been so gracefully accomplished without the double pants theory. Cheers girls xxx

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Wired Sussex

12 Nov

For the first time in what feels absolutely ages, I am feeling very positive about what the future has to offer, particularly post degree. Can’t believe I am typing this. I am actually positive about what will happen when I finish my degree. I actually did a little excited dance when I got home. Don’t worry, I am shocked at myself.

This time last week, I as terrified. I had been attending endless career sessions, all spurting the same uninspiring message; to get a good career you need to get an M.A. Great news when you have just spent £9000 to make yourself more employable, when you need to spend another £9000 to actually get a job. Yay.

However, I have just been to a session called ‘Make it into media’ organized by Wired Sussex. There was careers advice from the local colleges, universities, as well as media stands from some local companies. Before the day I was veering towards journalism in some way (with trepidation), but really still unsure about what I should be doing in my life. Now… I am positively excited. Not only is digital media expanding, but exponentially in Brighton, but copy-writing for websites and blogs seems like a interesting area to look into. I had a lovely chat with a PR company, and they seemed very interested in what I had to offer. Gutted I have had to join twitter to stay ahead of the game; I said I never would, I hate being a sheep.

Everyone else I chatted too was very friendly, welcoming, and above all positive. The first time I had that feeling about graduating. I was previously very concerned about being able to stay in Brighton, as I was convinced there were no jobs here. Maybe I was looking at completely the wrong industry, and I have just been shown the light.

The best thing about the day? I didn’t hear the word M.A being uttered once.

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The Pebble

9 Nov

Considering the Pebble is taken up quite alot of my time and is a pretty big achievement, I am surprised I have not written or posted anything about my editorship since I got the role. I was recently elected as a creative co-editor for the Brighton University student paper; The Pebble. I have been writing arts based articles for over  year, but now I get to try my hand to help run the show. It is proving so far a rewarding experience. I am hoping to write less and organize more… which is working out so far.

Trying to figure out how to post my articles/pages up here but I am really lacking technical foresight right now. Will do so eventually.

 

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