Tonight: Liars
Enduring acelords Liars are headlining Heaven tonight. Liars are one of the very best live bands we’ve this year: they absolutely killed it at La Route Du Rock festival in France in August with their relentlessly dark, pulsing voodoo racket. Through the massive Heaven sound system, they will destroy you. If you can’t make it, they’ve just released a live CD, more on which can be found here.
11 Nov 2010
Tories! Putting the N in cuts! and other coverage of the tuition demo that you didn't see
Freedom of the press guarantees competition in ideas. Image from Political Scrapbook
There’s nothing that the media loves more than a good bash-up. 50,000 students protesting tuition rises means nothing when the Black Block breaks a window.
Here’s a round-up of the coverage:
The 15 best slogans from today’s tuition rally
Inside Tory HQ with the protesters [VICE]
NUS president Aaron Porter Should Resign Over ‘NUS Terrorism’
11 Nov 2010
Upcoming non-cinema film shows in London
Dogtooth at the Victoria
Cinemas are so passé. The modern film should be experienced not in a purpose built auditorium, but in a location which, by its individuality, contributes an additional layer of personal meaning to the viewing experience. Snipe does not believe the above to be true. It just wrote it as a provocative introduction to this collection of venues putting on films in the next few weeks. Enjoy!
The Good Ship, Kilburn. Sunday 14th Nov
An afternoon of screenings from new and emerging short film makers. This obviously means that the quality may be variable, but they’re short so if one’s crap you won’t have to wait long for the next one. Entry £5, starts at 3.00pm.
The Zabludowicz Collection, Chalk Farm. Sundays
Housed in a former Methodist Chapel (full marks for “additional layer of personal meaning” potential), this arty exhibition space is well worth checking out online for its other activities. The Film Club convenes each Sunday, this time (14th Nov) it’s Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead II.
The Victoria, Mile End. Sundays
Full disclosure: The Victoria advertises in Snipe. But that doesn’t mean we’re biased. In fact, if we didn’t like them as a pub we’d throw their money back in their face. Probably. The Sunday screening this week (14th Nov) is creepy sounding (to wit: incest) Greek thriller Dogtooth, from 8.00pm. If you like films but have plans on Sundays, do not be disheartened by this city’s seeming inability to countenance a film showing on any other day. Check out the Victoria’s Film Quiz, second Wednesday of each month, instead.
The Garrison, Borough. Sundays
Haven’t been here, but the website makes it sound very crisp. Up in the Air is playing this Sunday from 7.00pm. A good film, in this non film critic’s humble opinion. Really nails the dislocated alienated modern life we’re all suffering miserably through.
The Kenton, Hackney. Mondays
Included purely for not having their Film Night on Sunday like everybody else. Originality must have its reward. This Monday (15th Nov) is The Motorcycle Diaries, which probably means it’ll be full of the sort of person who thinks Che Guevara is still culturally relevant. Other films this month hail from Serbia and Denmark, so they do cast their net wide.
For more ideas where these came from, check out this very helpful page at ViewLondon, from which the last two venues on this Top 5 have been shamelessly cribbed.
11 Nov 2010
London agenda for Thursday 11 November
1. Visit a disused railway arch for a showing of Being Sellers [Le Cool]
2. Poetry and hip-hop in Whitechapel with Tim Clare and David Barnes
3. Stare up at the Crystal Palace Transmitter [Tired of London]
4. Turn on at High Society [Spoonfed]
5. Shut up for two minutes at 11am
11 Nov 2010
Artist’s Corner: Lauren Summers
Lauren Summers ‘Floating Finished’ Courtesy of the Artist
As told to Lauren Down
Having graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2008, Lauren Summers talks about creative block, what inspires her and what she is currently working on.
I decided not pursue my art foundation into a Bachelor’s degree because I really hated it and was struggling to concentrate. Until about two months ago I had been working mainly in pencil, carefully and painstakingly crafting figurative work on paper but I became more and more frustrated and dissatisfied with everything.
Creative block only seems to happen when I’m not really enjoying what I’m doing. I like trying new things but I need to learn not to over-think or be too precious. Listening to really descriptive music, podcasts, spoken word recordings or being around friends really helps me to produce work. It keeps my conscious stimulated by something other than the drawing and leaves the creative side of my brain free to do as it pleases.
I found myself one evening not being able to complete a drawing so I ended up tearing up the page I was working on only to be left staring at another blank page. I just picked up a pen and started doodling. As the pattern grew I ran out of space, so I held it up to a mirror and started working on a symmetrical copy. I put all the pieces of paper together and ended up with this massive butterfly wing-esque drawing comprised of geometrical shapes and hard, straight lines. Although, because they’re hand drawn the circles aren’t perfect and the lines aren’t too straight, which gives the work its warmth.
I remember loving art when I was a kid. My Nan used to keep all my pictures on the wall in the kitchen: single sheets of paper were filled with everything from mermaids to castles, dogs and Christmas trees. I really loved art as a teenager in school. I had an awesome teacher who used to just leave us to it and play DOOM in his office, but he was honest, encouraging but critical about my work so I was always trying to be better.
I never really think too much about what I’m drawing, it’s quite an organic process despite the mechanical appearance of my designs and illustrations. I guess the main outside inspiration I draw from are buildings (particularly of the art deco era), skylines and detailed architectural facades. I draw buildings from my route into work, from memory and from places I’ve never been. One work in particular was inspired by my time in New York, I tried to draw The Chrysler Building but the lines gradually became abstracted. A lot of my work resembles skylines, roof top, detailed architecture from old buildings.
I’m hoping to turn some of my illustrations into textile designs very soon. Having worked for various fashion companies since I left university this kind of seems like a natural progression for me.
10 Nov 2010
This is the future of journalism jobs: edit Millionaire Lifestyle magazine for £8,000 per year
Can you create compelling editorial for millionaires? Are you familiar with the latest luxury brands? Can you mix with the swells at their country piles? Then Millionaire Lifestyle magazine has a job for you. As long as you can live the millionaire lifestyle on £8,000 per annum. And, just like the Big Society, there are no employee benefits.
10 Nov 2010
London agenda for Wednesday 10 November
1. Spacey slow jams with Diamond Rings and Love Parry III
2. Trade sunglasses for bread at the Hoxton premiere of Bright Lights, Big City [Le Cool]
3. Recycle old gadgets to DJs at European Recycling Party at Punk featuring Rob Da Bank [Run Riot]
4. Wander in the Phoenix Garden [Tired of London]
5. Bliss out with Wavves [Spoonfed]
10 Nov 2010
Michael Heseltine knows why our schools are failing: hiring girls as teachers
House of Lords guy Michael Heseltine has sympathy for failing schools, he does. And he is so appreciative of the ‘young girls’ who are trying to teach but they are, in reality, presiding over District 13.* That’s why he suggests the only feasible plan: send in retired army offices to maintain discipline.
* That French movie that was kind of a rip-off of Escape From New York? The one where Arrondissement 13 is a lawless enclave that lives by their own codes, untrammelled by civil society. They told me no one would get the reference.09 Nov 2010
David Cameron, former employee of company that sold opium to China, will lecture same on human rights
During his gap year in 1985, a young Dave Cameron took a position, for three months, in Hong Kong with one of that city’s most infamous firms, Jardine Matheson. Infamous because Jardine Matheson gained its initial wealth from selling opium to China and for calling in British gunboats when the Chinese government banned the trade. It’s a fun fact that will surely be enjoyed by Chinese officials when Cameron informs them of the importance of human rights. They’ll surely appreciate the UK’s innovative use of control orders, too.
09 Nov 2010
Most annoying habits on London public transport
For all the moaning that goes on, public transport in London isn’t all that bad. But it could be so much better. Here are five things Londoners do on the move which drive Snipe spare. So cut them out, and let your fellow travellers love you just a little bit more.
Lack of spatial awareness
This one covers a multitude of sins: Not moving down inside the tube carriage; not going on the deserted top deck of a bus in rush hour, instead crowding downstairs so new passengers can’t get on; when two people try to squeeze off a train on either side of you simultaneously, making you the pâté in a horrific tube sandwich; general dawdling in tight spaces leading to raging bottlenecks. Just…just be more aware, folks. Look around you, that’s all Snipe asks.
Excessive fidgeting to warn that you’re about to get off
So you’re getting off at the next stop. How do I know? Because every 2 seconds since we left the last stop you’ve been rearranging your bags, faffing with your coat and looking nervously in my direction. I get it. You need me to move. I will do so when the train stops, and you’ll have plenty of time to get off. In the meantime, chill out!
Repeatedly pressing the open door button on the overground before the light comes on
More pointless impatience and rabid insecurity. The door will open. It’s opened at every stop so far, just wait. Wait for the light and the little buzz. The system will work. Don’t be so narcissistic as to assume that the only person it won’t work for is you. Are you one of those people who jab repeatedly at the button at pedestrian crossings, even though the WAIT light is already lit? That’s annoying too. Leave your control issues at home.
Failing to open ventilation windows
Slightly less of an issue now we’ve left the summer swelter behind, but still a rush hour concern. Open the windows, just a bit will do. The breeze is good for all of us. It’s also great for achieving that just-got-out-of-bed-look for your hair, so there’s an added reason for sorting this one out.
Being annoyed at someone reading the Metro over your shoulder
It’s one thing if you’ve paid a quid for The Times and someone is trying to steal the precious words with sly glances and covert looks, but ffs the Metro is free! All you’ve done is pick a copy up from the neighbouring seat. Share, why don’t you? Just share the newsy goodness. That way we can all get along.
Follow Mike
Twitter: @MikPollitt
Email: michael.pollitt@snipelondon.com
09 Nov 2010
Snipe Highlights
Some popular articles from past years
- Only 16 commuters touch in to Emirates Air Line, figures reveal
- Margaret Thatcher statue rejected by public
- London has chosen its mayor, but why can’t it choose its own media?
- Random Interview: Eileen Conn, co-ordinator of Peckham Vision
- The five best places in London to have an epiphany
- Nice Interactive timeline lets you follow Londoners' historic fight against racism
- Summer Camp: Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days
- 9 poems about London: one for each of your moods
- The five spookiest abandoned London hospitals
- An interview with Desiree Akhavan
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