Search Results

Film in Flux: Conflating Creativity and Artificial Intelligence at Gothenburg Film Festival Francesca Beaumont Wednesday 25 October 2023 A look at Sweden’s contemporary cultural industry and how AI plans to augment and reimagination some of Sweden's most famous film's. Exploring what Gothenburg Film Festival's digitalized debut mean for the future of the film industry. Is it an exciting experimental shift in cinema, or will Artificial Intelligence be used to undercut the authenticity so intimately undergirding art house cinema? In January 2024, the Göteborg film festival will be host to an AI-assisted reimagination of Swedish arthouse classic ‘Persona’ (Dir. Ingmar Bergman). But what does this digital debut mean for the future of the film industry? Is it signalling an exciting experimental shift in cinema? Or will AI Augmentation be used to undercut the authenticity that is so intimately undergirding art house cinema? In this debut, Liv Ullman, most known for her performance as Elisabet Vogler in Persona (1966), will have her face digitally replaced by the face of Alma Pöysti, a Swedish-speaking Finnish actor, most recognised for her 2023 performance in ‘Fallen Leaves’. Jonas Holmberg, Göteborg film festival’s artistic director, claims that “the authenticity that has made ‘Persona’ a classic has been urgently reactivated by technological advancements”, and thus this restoration of ‘Persona’ (1966), which will be screened exclusively at the Swedish film festival, will act more as a “discussion on acting and technology” than an applause for emerging technological advancement in the film industry. Choosing Ingmar Bergman’s arthouse apotheosis is an interesting move from Sweden’s largest film festival, as Bergman’s films are intrinsically tied to the nature of the soul. His oeuvre is famous for extracting and implementing Nietzschean ethics and Kierkegaardian existentialism throughout. And to now frame his works inside a digital medium provides a platform for some very interesting debates. Holmberg argues that AI is purely reactivating authenticity, but how is it possible that we can attach authenticity to art that requires digitalism to propel itself into the scope of legitimacy? In anti-AI rhetoric, it is held that creativity is an invariably human quality – one that is completed out of sync with technology. To be creative is to be human. In superseding our own creativity with AI, are we not outsourcing our humanity to machinery as a means to mitigate the authenticity of the self? However, it is also widely held that all technology is inevitably embedded in, and influenced by, the social context in which it is developed, and thus there is no reason why Artificial Intelligence doesn’t have the capacity to emulate the authenticity of the human soul. This suggests that the artificial restoration of Bergman’s classic is not upending the complexity of the human condition but rather enhancing the multitude of ways we approach it. In many of Harvard Business Review’s AI Articles, it is held that “AI carries such great potential to satisfy the need to create content that it is incredibly representative of the consumer”. Taken positively, we can then take on the assumption that, through digitally enhanced art and film, we will soon be reaching a place where AI will be able to reflect to us the essence of our own authenticity with impressive accuracy. And where better to start than cinema? Sweden’s contemporary film scene is certainly home to some of the most current and heated debates regarding the merging of Artificial Intelligence with Art. So, whilst this artificial augmentation of ‘Persona’ will not be releasing outside of Sweden, it still births a very important argument regarding cinema worldwide and how emerging technology plans to modulate the cultural industry. About the Author Related Articles Film in Flux: Conflating Creativity and Artificial Intelligence at Gothenburg Film Festival Francesca Beaumont Rugby: A culture of respect? Eleanor Curtis Images provided by Unsplash. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: cinema technology culture sweden Francesca Beaumont artificial intelligence Categories: Cultural Spotlight Global Culture Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! Barbara Dawson average rating is 3 out of 5 Lovely tasty dish. Try it you won’t be disappointed. Time Published Aunty Liz average rating is 3 out of 5 Very tasty and cheap. I often have this for tea! Time Published BETTS average rating is 3 out of 5 Being a bilingual family (French mother and British father,) living in France I thought your article was extremely interesting . Have you research on bilingualism ? It seems that when the mother is British and the father French and they both live in France their children seem to be more bilingual than when the mother is French and the father is British . This is what we called mother tongue , isn't it ? Time Published Niamh average rating is 3 out of 5 Such an interesting article! Time Published LOAD MORE

A l’isoloir: what you need to know about the French Elections Niamh Woodhouse Wednesday 6 April 2022 The French head to the polls this weekend to elect their next President. With many candidates from all sides of the political spectrum, controversial campaigns and troubling times, Niamh gives the rundown of everything you need to know this French election season. Election season has begun in France as voters head to polling stations this weekend to elect who they wish to be their President for the next five years. The current term, under Emmanuel Macron, has certainly been eventful, with the Gilets Jaunes movement of 2019, an increasingly severe climate crisis, two years of a global pandemic and now a potentially devasting war in Europe. All these issues and more will be on the electorate’s minds as they go to the ballot box. With this article, you’ll be filled in on all the basics you need to know for the upcoming election across la Manche . How does the election work? The French election process consists of two rounds of voting, held 14 days apart. The first round, this year on 10th April, allows candidates, who have managed to collect at least 500 signatures of support from elected representatives, such as mayors, to run in the race for President. If one candidate out of this initial group gains more than 50% of the vote, then they win the election and will become the next president of the 5th Republic. But, if no one wins the first round, as is looking likely this year, the two candidates with the highest number of votes progress to the next round. This year they will go head-to-head on 24th April. Finally, the winner of this round will take office in the Elysée Palace on 13th May. Politics fans will be glad to hear that this is not the end of the French election season – the following month there is another vote to decide on the Députés (MPs) to represent each constituency in the National Assembly. The newly elected president will hope for a majority from the 577 places up for grabs so they can run the government the way they promised in election campaigns. Who is in the race? This year, there are 12 candidates running for President - eight men and four women. Starting in the centre, we have the current President, Emmanuel Macron, representing his party République En Marche! (Republic on the move!), which attracts voters from both sides of the political spectrum. Last election season, En Marche were the new party on the scene and took the political world by storm, winning the election in the second round. Of the five remaining frontrunners, we have two from the left, Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Yannick Jadot. Mélenchon stands for the Union Populaire , a far-left party focusing on issues such as governmental and constitutional reform. While Jadot represents France’s equivalent of the Green Party, Parti Socialiste , the party of former President François Hollande, and its candidate, the Parisian Mayor Anne Hildalgo, have failed to overcome major setbacks over their reputation. This has lead voters of the traditional left to look elsewhere, especially to Macron and the centre. Moving on to the contenders from the right side of French politics, Valerie Pécresse is from the more moderate party Les Républicains , whilst Marine Le Pen and Eric Zemmour represent the far right. Le Pen, along with her father Jean-Marie, has been an infamous name in French politics for many years, having a strong anti-immigrant rhetoric. New to politics, the Reconquête nominee, Eric Zemmour, holds more hardline views, promising to implement a ‘zero immigration’ policy. What are the important topics and issues up for debate? Opinion polls suggest that the most important issues of the election debate have been the economy, immigration, and security. The current economy is relatively strong, having bounced back from the impact of the pandemic. As well as this, unemployment has decreased to 7.4%, just above the European average. Both of these factors will draw voters to Macron, as it has been under his government that these improvements have occurred. The next issue, immigration, has always been an integral part of French society, albeit a controversial one. There are around 7 million immigrants living in France, mostly coming from countries across Europe and the Maghreb (Northern Africa). The topic is most prominent in the campaigns of the right-wing candidates, with Madame Le Pen promising a referendum on the matter if she succeeds. France has experienced a number of terror attacks over the past few years, so understandably security is an important topic for both voters and nominees. Macron promises to put more police on the streets to reassure the French public, pointing to the fact that crime has fallen under his presidency. What are the predictions? According to the polls, Macron is strongly out in front in the race to the Elysée. This advantage has recently been strengthened by his strong response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, he does not have strong enough support to claim victory solely from the first round. So, the question is who will he go against in the second. Marine Le Pen looks to be the strongest contender, gaining more support after remarks came out from her far-right rival, Eric Zemmour, saying that he ‘admired’ Putin. Le Pen has also had controversy surrounding links to the Russian President, having to bin a number of flyers featuring the pair together. Nevertheless, her message on purchasing power, made worse by the crisis in Ukraine, has resonated with many, especially the working class. Then, currently polling at 14% is the far-left politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Melenchon’s principal policy is to change the political system, creating a 6th Republic. Even though he is the strongest contestant from the left, his vote suffers from the fragmentation on this end of the spectrum. So many parties representing similar political ideals lead to confusion and division amongst voters. As a result, the left once again are being shown to lack a strong foothold in this election. About the Author Related Articles A l’isoloir: what you need to know about the French Elections Niamh Woodhouse "El silencio de otros": 45 years of the Amnesty Law in Spain Aidan Cross French Connection: An Interview with a True Parisian Part 2/2 : The Long Five Years Jess Henrys Copyright free images via Unsplash. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: France Politics Elections President Niamh Woodhouse Categories: News Guide Global Affairs Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

Modern Languages with Business < Back Maya Selvadurai Latest Articles by this Author

Mental Health Awareness Week: What's Going on at UoN? Holly Cromwell Thursday 14 March 2024 Holly talks about what is happening at UoN during Mental Health Awareness week, exploring events, support available, and student opinions. It’s Mental Health Awareness Week here on campus! Keep an eye out for your school’s mental health day for freebies and relaxing games. (Unfortunately, STEM students, we’ve noticed you tend to be left out here – is this your chance to talk to your Student Reps about it? You deserve free hot chocolate too.) There are also university-wide events to remind us to take time for ourselves, slow down for a second and prioritise ourselves in the face of the ugly, looming spectre of deadline season. Now, this week is not without controversy. Over the last few days, I’ve heard people describe it as infantilising or useless, a plaster over a bullet hole: student mental health is notoriously bad. This year’s House of Commons Research Briefing on it even suggests our mental health is up to seven times worse than our predecessors from 2010. The thing is, Mental Health Awareness Week is not supposed to fix things. Yes, the activities provided do tend to be based in mindfulness, but the point is to remind everyone on campus to take a moment and evaluate themselves. How aware are you of your mental health? How are you actually feeling at this moment? How do you feel about your university work, your pays-the-bills work, your relationships, your life? For some of us university can suck because it’s difficult, challenging, or full-on; for others, challenging may be an understatement. There may be things we can do to make it more accessible; there might not be. This is a chance to think about how you’re doing, and maybe even make a few changes to make your life a little easier. It took me three years to finally put in that support request my personal tutor recommended in first year, and another term to figure out how it actually works. Might as well start now. I’ll also take this opportunity to shout out resources for when things get tough. I’m on committee for Nightline, full disclosure, so I obviously want you to know our phone lines and IM system are open every night of term from 7 pm – 8 am whether you have something to talk about or just don’t want to feel alone. But Nightline is not the only resource you have: the university wellbeing service has a full directory you can find at this link ( Student Wellbeing ( nottingham.ac.uk ) ) and whilst a lot of it is now referral only, you can get that referral from the support and wellbeing officer attached to your faculty. You can find them through the link above or from the MyWellbeing section of the studentlife site. Go forth and find your freebies, but do keep in mind what this week is all about. About the Author Related Articles Protecting your mental health abroad Aidan Cross Surviving Language Student Life: Scheduling Jess Henrys You Are Not Alone Jess Henrys Images provided by University of Nottingham. For more information about Mental Health Awareness at UoN please visit the following website: University Mental Health Day - The University of Nottingham For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Mental Health Wellbeing Holly Cromwell Events University Student life Categories: Welfare Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

How to travel cheaply during your year abroad Chloe Brewster Monday 15 August 2022 In this article, Chloe, who has just finished her year abroad in France, offers advice on how to travel both within and outside your host country without spending a fortune or even relying on air travel. Living in your host city for a semester or a year always presents numerous opportunities for immersing yourself in local customs and activities, but sometimes you may fancy a change of setting and want to explore the country (or perhaps some others). Contrary to common perception, travelling during your year abroad needn’t be expensive provided that you plan accordingly and learn some tips which enable you to live and think like a local in your host country! Sign up for a rail card If you are working or studying in a country for a semester, it is easy to assume that investing in a rail card is not worthwhile, but rail cards tend to be cheap and barely make a dent into your pocket. For example, I only paid 15 euros for a regional ‘Grand Est Primo’ card during my year abroad in Strasbourg, France which reduced rail fares by 50% during the week and a mind-blowing 70% at weekends – needless to say, I used the card as often as I could because French regional rail travel is significantly cheaper than in the UK! The card even included trips to Switzerland which was a novelty since it wasn’t even in the same country , let alone the same region. A cheap visit to Basel, Switzerland thanks to a regional rail card (same cannot be said of the extortionately priced McDonald’s though!) Owning a rail card definitely incites you to explore your local region and sometimes appreciate a change of scenery. However, if bigger cities or further-away areas are more appealing to you, a general youth discount card (valid on long-distance trains) might be better suited which offers generous discounts for trains booked in advance (although last-minute deals can also be found). In France, the Carte Avantage Jeune (49 euros for a year) offers significant savings on TGV or fast-speed trains, which broadens the spectrum of cities that you can visit relatively inexpensively (see the below image). Even though it is a bigger investment compared to the cheaper regional cards, the Carte Avantage Jeune pays for itself within one or two trips! Cathédrale de Besançon, France – eligible for the Carte Avantage Jeune Travel by coach or bus In an era of increased environmental awareness, travelling by coach is advantageous both for your budget and for the environment. Flixbus and Blablabus are two of the most well-known coach companies in mainland Europe, making long-distance travel more accessible (and somewhat comfortable with free Wifi and charging points on board). Alternating between coach and rail travel can be a good compromise if travelling completely by coach doesn’t appeal to you, especially for day trips; during a recent visit to Luxembourg, I travelled there on regional trains then returned home via a Flixbus in the late evening. Exploring the Grund in Luxembourg City Watch out for special deals In between your work placement or studies, you probably don’t have an abundance of time to constantly check rail discounts in the hope that a special offer might come up in time for your travels! But it is definitely worth keeping an eye on rail apps for your host country (DB, SNCF, etc.) to see if there are any sales for particular routes which may usually be quite expensive. I finally managed to get discounted tickets to Paris not long before I finished my year abroad after months of waiting for special deals, so perseverance is certainly essential as difficult as it might be! Finally made it to the Eiffel Tower! Bring your student card/passport Now that you have hopefully arrived at your travel destination, you are going to plan what you are going to do there. If you are studying abroad, your student card should entitle you to discounts or free admission into cultural places such as museums. If you are travelling to another country (i.e. Germany from France), you can still use your (French) student card and be eligible for discounts, which is always much-welcomed. Porta Nigra, Trier (Germany) – a discounted visit thanks to my student card However, certain cities offer discounts or free admission based on your passport status. In Paris, free admission is usually determined by possessing an EU passport and being under the age of 25. While this may prove disappointing for British passport holders (another unfortunate legacy of Brexit!), all hope is not necessarily lost. For example, I visited the Arc de Triomphe for free by showing my long-stay student visa, although this should also apply to holders of a working visa. You never know when a passport/visa or student card may come in handy for entitling you to discounts, so it is always wise to bring relevant documentation with you for your travels because why not ? These are just a few tips (but not an exhaustive list!) for travelling as economically as possible during your year abroad and gaining an insight (via culture, history or food) into other regions in your host country. Whether it is for a day trip or a weekend break, travelling is definitely one of the most exhilarating elements of a year abroad and is not to be missed! About the Author Related Articles Barcelona’s Hidden Gems: Live like a local and escape the tourists Mhairi MacLeod 48 Hours in Seville: Spain's Sunny City Niamh Woodhouse Hungry in St Petersburg? My Top 5 Restaurants for Visitors Jess Henrys Images provided by Chloe Brewster For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Chloe Brewster Budget Tips Year Abroad France Categories: Travel Travel Tips Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

The economic value to the UK of speaking other languages: realistic or idealistic? Rosie Loyd Thursday 17 March 2022 With the demand for foreign-language speakers on the rise, new research has uncovered just how valuable these skills can prove to be to the UK on an economic level. Examining the current and future language-learning scene, 3rd year Spanish and Mandarin language student and Current Affairs Editor, Rosie Loyd, highlights this report’s main findings. Comparing these against the clear trend of declining uptake and accessibility to certain languages, beginning in primary schools and working its way up to university level, she poses the question of whether our government’s vision for a “Global Britain” is realistic or, rather, idealistic. According to a new report , published by the University of Cambridge and the not-for-profit research institute RAND, investing £1 into the learning and education of Arabic, French, Mandarin, or Spanish, could return approximately £2. Using a macroeconomic model with hypothetical scenarios, researchers examined the UK’s economic performance between now and 2050, assessing the different outcomes if more students at Key Stage 3 (KS3) and Key Stage 4 (KS4) were to study one of four languages, reaching a level suitable to a business setting. The study was based on the Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP), an initiative being delivered in state schools since 2016. The programme’s aim was to have 5,000 students on track to attain at least a B1 level (HSK3) in Mandarin by 2020 at the end of Year 10, followed by a GCSE in Year 11. As of September 2021, there are around 8,000 pupils enrolled in the programme. Researchers calculated a cumulative increase of £11.8-12.6 million in the UK’s GDP by 2050 if there was a 10 percentage point increase in the uptake of Arabic at KS3/KS4, and between £11.5-12.3 million for Mandarin. These two languages correspond to about 0.5% of the UK’s GDP in 2019, whilst French (£9.2-9.9 million) and Spanish (£9.1-9.8 million) figures, correspond to about 0.4%. To arrive at these calculations, the study considered the costs required to provide such language teaching, noting that programmes such as French and Spanish, which are likely to be already well embedded in schools, would cost less, whilst Mandarin, and especially Arabic, would be most costly. Furthermore, researchers considering the relationship between languages and bilateral trade flows found that a full eradication of language barriers with Arabic-, Chinese-, French- and Spanish-speaking countries could increase UK exports annually by about £19 billion. It is clear that languages and the opportunities they create have the potential to bring significant returns to the UK economy. But this is wholly dependent on the assumption that there will be a continued uptake of foreign languages in the coming decades. Recent statistics suggest that this is not looking likely. The 2020 Language Trends report , published by the British Council, showed that although French remained the most taught language at KS2 level (primary school) in 75% of the responding 608 schools, followed by Spanish taught in 25%, Chinese was available in less than 3% of schools. Arabic was not on the list. In the same study for 2021 , responses from 756 schools presented French and Spanish with similar figures to the previous year, whilst Chinese was at 3%, and Arabic was taught in less than 3% of primary schools. There is a consistent uptake of French and Spanish for GCSE exams with over 120,000 and 100,000 entries recorded respectively. Mandarin and Arabic, among others, fall into the category “Other modern languages’”, which saw a drastic decrease in GCSE entries from approximately 31,000 in 2019 to just over 22,000 in 2020. Fewer GCSE students taking languages means fewer A-Level students developing these languages to a higher level. There is a clear domino effect reaching universities, with acceptances onto modern language degrees decreasing by 36% between 2011 and 2021. Analysis There seems to be no issue with the uptake of French and Spanish across all levels of education. That’s promising, then, if this new report’s estimates for economic benefits are something to go by. The lack of Mandarin and Arabic in primary schools, however, must be addressed, not only to reap supposed economic rewards, but also to keep up and develop alongside the ever-changing yet constantly interconnected world. There are, after all, over 1 billion Mandarin speakers. And, whilst these two languages are considerably more complex than European languages - I can vouch for that as a University Mandarin language student - they are, nonetheless, crucial when it comes to both business relationships and the continuous need for communication abroad. One reason many students opt for French and Spanish, even when other languages are available, is because those are traditionally what their parents were taught in school. The lack of non-European language teachers further reflects this. The ‘otherness’ that students might associate with languages to which they are unfamiliar, such as Mandarin, Arabic, or Japanese, for example, needs to be quashed with urgency. These languages, and their people, are the future, and one will no doubt look foolish if seen fumbling about with Google Translate in a few decades’ time. The recent government report on a ‘global Britain’, addresses our need to communicate with China going forward. But is this realistic or idealistic? One section suggests that “China’s increasing power and international assertiveness is likely to be the most significant geopolitical factor of the 2020s. […] Open, trading economies like the UK will need to engage with China and remain open to Chinese trade and investment. […] Cooperation with China will also be vital in tackling transnational challenges.” If “cooperation”, then, is so very pressing, the government needs to take more action and responsibility to counter the clearly declining figures of uptake for GCSE exams and above. The most obvious place to start is by targeting primary schools, where education begins. Providing more language teachers, more funding for material and, most importantly, making languages such as Mandarin and Arabic compulsory subjects on curriculums will be the first most crucial steps. Until a significant number of students begin to study these languages, thus making it the “norm” in schools, there will be no continuous flow of the subjects’ uptake. Languages are an invaluable skill. The government needs to make sure its citizens have every opportunity possible to access these languages, which have the potential, as this new report suggests, to reap rewards for the economy. About the Author Related Articles 5 podcasts to help you improve your French Niamh Woodhouse The economic value to the UK of speaking other languages: realistic or idealistic? Rosie Loyd Our top 5 tips for keeping on top of your Chinese Rosie Loyd Copyright free images via Unsplash. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Rosie Loyd Language Learning Economics UK Government Categories: Language and Linguistics Analysis Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

I Went to a Naked Orchestra: A Review of Carta by Monica Calle Niamh Woodhouse Friday 25 March 2022 Impressive, thought-provoking and moving, Carta by Monica Calle tackles the modern-day topic of female empowerment amongst other themes. Our Editor-in-Chief, Niamh Woodhouse, shares her experience of attending the 'naked orchestra', read on to find out more. Everyone tells you that a year abroad comes with once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. However, one experience I did not expect was attending a naked orchestra. My friends and I wanted to make the most of Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro (FIT) , an international theatre festival that was taking place in Cadiz, the city of my Erasmus placement. So, we decided to get tickets for its inaugural show and had to take a second look when we read its description in the festival’s program. Image caption: The silhouettes of the female musicians stood close together in a line across the stage. When opening night came around, we arrived at the historic Gran Teatro Falla and climbed up to our seats in the Galera (gallery seats). Awaiting the start of the show, we were giggly, guessing what the next hour and a half could hold and expecting to awkwardly laugh throughout. Then onto the stage came the show’s director and creator, Mónica Calle, to give a speech detailing the importance of the show to her as well as the strong connection she felt to Spain, the country of her birth. She also introduced the cast of around 25 female performers of varying heights, races and physical builds – still fully clothed at this point. After this, the lights dimmed, the women undressed and collected their instruments; then the performance began. Over an hour and a half, the performers interpreted Beethoven’s 7th Symphony, with the traditional orchestral instruments, as well as their voices and bodies. Against what we had originally thought, a few minutes into the show we didn’t think about the fact that the actresses were naked anymore and simply enjoyed the art that was playing out in front of us. Image caption: Silhouettes of the female musicians playing their instruments on a low-lit stage. After the show, we got the opportunity to meet and have some drinks with the actresses – thanks to a friend, Fatima, who worked at the festival. Chatting to them, we were shocked to find that they were a similar age to us and that, although they had all had experiences on stage before, only a few of them were actual musicians or trained ballerinas. However, this surprising fact was no coincidence and turned out to be an integral part of the show. Calle had purposely chosen actresses with little to no experience of professional dancing and playing music, in an effort to push the human form to its very limits and demonstrate that the impossible can be achieved as a collective. This collectiveness and sisterhood could certainly be felt amongst the young women, both on and off the stage. During the spectacle, they managed to disguise any inexperienced wobble or misplayed note from an individual performer by working harmoniously as an ensemble. From talking to them after the show, you could see that a real friendship, even a family, had formed between the actresses as they chatted and complimented each other on their performances. The idea of sorority was also reflected in the fact that the women were naked, with many of them saying that being nude on stage was a lot less daunting knowing they were together as a whole, united in their vulnerability. Calle and her troupe are currently touring Europe with Carta and I would wholeheartedly recommend attending if it comes to a city near you! The show truly demonstrates female empowerment as the women together take on impressive feats and push their bodies and skills to the limit, ultimately triumphing over adversity. ★★★★ ☆ About the Author Related Articles Barcelona’s Hidden Gems: Live like a local and escape the tourists Mhairi MacLeod 48 Hours in Seville: Spain's Sunny City Niamh Woodhouse Southern Spain’s Architectural Gems Vicki Mileson Images provided by Niamh Woodhouse. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Spain Orchestra Shows Art Niamh Woodhouse Categories: Review Culture Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

Iran: The Significance of the Hijab and Why We Must Do More Emily Dawson Wednesday 15 February 2023 Iranian women are currently lining the streets in protest of the mandatory hijab and dress code. With support coming from all over the world, it is time we speak up about the deeper meaning behind the protests. Being forced. Being asked. Do you know the difference? Do you think people should have the right to decide? Women in Iran are currently being deprived of this basic right. Following the death of Mahsa Amini on 16 September, Iranian protestors have filled the streets fighting and protesting the brutality of the so-called ‘morality police’ and the strict dress codes enforced by the Islamic Revolution. Mahsa Amini was killed by the country’s police after being arrested for not correctly wearing her mandatory hijab and not conforming to dress expectations. Statements explain how Amini was beaten and struck several times before she died, yet the government is denying any wrongdoing. As of 4 December, six people have been sentenced to death, at least 26 others are currently facing charges for crimes that could see them hanged and 459 people have been killed. This hasn’t stopped the protestors from standing up for what they believe in. The mandatory ruling of the hijab, a religious piece of clothing associated with modesty and one’s commitment to Islam, was established in Iran in 1983 , with the expectation that all women, whether they are Muslim or not, would conform to the code. Ruling this item of clothing as mandatory is against what the hijab represents. Prior to 1983 , when the government were advocating for women to remove their hijabs, many women wore the hijab as a way of protesting against the government. Ironically, the opposite is now taking place. Women are currently taking to the streets in protest of the mandatory hijab. These women are fighting the violence of the so-called morality police with peaceful, non-violent demonstrations. They are removing and burning their hijabs – something which for many Muslims, not just in Iran but around the world, is a very significant and striking move. Removing the hijab has caused controversy across the country. Revealing their hair demonstrates their opposition to the strict rules imposed by the Islamic government. Burning their hijabs is a very strong and significant form of protest, considering the religious connotations of the item. This act is done not with the intention of destroying the religious hijab but instead to get rid of the restrictions for women that come with this obligatory dress code. These protests go to say that if the government can’t respect the religious perspective surrounding the hijab, then neither can the women of Iran. These demonstrations have certainly had the desired reaction; mobilising people around the world regarding a woman’s right to choose. Word has spread very quickly across the globe about the protests and the severe violence that the people of Iran are being subjected to. However, media-led discussions have been minimal. Why, when the media have such a power to help, do they sit silently? While the media have discussed the situation in Iran, reports focus on results rather than reason. These reports talk about the level of violence inflicted on the women, but not why the women are protesting. This style of reporting means the public draw their own conclusions that the religion is oppressive against women when this is not the case. It can be put down to the desire to remain oblivious; these events aren’t happening in the Western world therefore they don’t affect us. However, there is a need to discuss the whys behind the headlines; why these women are protesting, why the mandatory hijab is so significant and why this goes against everything taught in the Quran. There is a need to educate. Without these conversations, the Western world will remain blindfolded to what Islam is about and there will be no change in the way the Muslim community is viewed, therefore, perpetuating Islamophobic ideas. Everything comes back to education; the media have the means to educate and therefore the responsibility to do so. With the protests showing little sign of coming to an end , support has grown from all over the world; both men and women are standing in solidarity with the protestors. The latest form of protest can be seen with the Iranian footballers at the Qatar World Cup, who in their first match did not sing the national anthem. However, this didn’t come without risks. The players, who were originally told by their coach that they could protest if it aligned with FIFA’s criteria, have been informed that if they continue with this form of protest, their families will be imprisoned and tortured. These protests have spread across the world, with many of the world’s main cities fighting for ‘justice for Iran’. One brave man at the World Cup ran across the pitch as a form of protest with “Respect for Iranian women”, among other things, written on his top. If people who go about their daily lives with no connection to Iran can show such bravery, why can’t the media drive the change we need to see? About the Author Related Articles Iran: The Significance of the Hijab and Why We Must Do More Emily Dawson Images provided by Emily Dawson. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Emily Dawson Iran Protests Women Hijab Categories: Analysis Global Affairs Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

If You Didn’t Post About It, Did It Even Happen? - The Toxic Relationship Between Tourism and Social Media Jamey Heron-Waterhouse Wednesday 13 December 2023 As the social media generation grows into fully fledged adults, we have started to see a relationship blossom between tourism and social media. The want to post about our travels has us all under its spell, if we don’t post what we did, ate, saw, and bought, did it really happen? What motivates us to post on social media about holidays? What does posting on social media mean to us? To travel is to experience a culture, landscape, language, and environment different from your own. However, it feels as though a new addition to the list of what it is to travel is to post about it online as well. In a poll by Four Pillars Hotels, ‘ 76% of travellers admitted to actually posting vacation photos on social media after they came back. ’ So, the desire to post about a holiday is definitely a common theme amongst tourists in the digital age. But is this desire the result of a toxic demand to share your experiences online? When asking a few friends why they post about their travels on social media, the reasons were diverse. Some said that their Instagram account acts as a kind of diary or scrapbook, so their travel posts are a memory bank of what they’ve done. In this way, travel and social media have evolved together as the technological generation has moved past the task of going to Boots or Tesco to print digital photos. We constantly carry around little cameras in our pockets, so this digital scrapbook format seems to be a convenient way to document our journeys. But why post this digital scrapbook for everyone to see, not just for you to look back on? Perhaps it is to share your experiences with those around you, or if the photos are from a group trip, you’d like those you travelled with to see them too. Others referenced their need to share something ‘interesting’ on social media. When you travel, it’s new and exciting, and wanting to share this with your followers is understandable. The need to share this speaks to the need to share all interesting aspects of our lives online – when we post photos on social media, we present an idealised version of ourselves and our lives. When questioning my friends about whether their posting on social media is something they feel obligated to do, they stated that ‘it’s more of a want than a need’. Whether this want stems from a conditioning from social media to present our experiences on a platter for all to see is difficult to say. Perhaps it is a subconscious effect, or perhaps it is exactly what my interviewees said, a documentation of an experience for them to look back on. According to a poll by StudyFinds, 73 percent of those polled ‘indicated they felt annoyed by people who share pictures of their vacation ’. Therefore, the toxicity of posting about your holiday is perhaps rooted not in the presentation of an idealised version of yourself, but instead as a method of showing off to your followers. Indeed, the study by King University on The Psychology of Social Media concluded that ‘people generally post from some kind of emotional position that seeks a response. Since the very nature of social media centres on communication, it makes sense that the primary motivation for posting comes from a psychological point to connect with others. But this constant quest for acceptance and exposure on social media can lead to major psychological problems for some.’ It is this ‘quest for acceptance’ that harbours the toxic relationship between tourism and social media. Sharing your holidays on a public online space brings with it the evaluation of others – whether or not you were actively seeking it. Overall, it seems that the toxic relationship between tourism and social media survives in the evaluative nature of sharing things in a public domain. Whether your initial goal was to post for yourself or not, there is at least some sense that you are posting for all to see, presenting a specific impression of yourself online. About the Author Related Articles If You Didn’t Post About It, Did It Even Happen? - The Toxic Relationship Between Tourism and Social Media Jamey Heron-Waterhouse Copyright free images via Unsplash. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: tourism social media psychology mental health digital age Jamey Heron-Waterhouse Categories: Travel Thought Piece Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! Barbara Dawson average rating is 3 out of 5 Lovely tasty dish. Try it you won’t be disappointed. Time Published Aunty Liz average rating is 3 out of 5 Very tasty and cheap. I often have this for tea! Time Published BETTS average rating is 3 out of 5 Being a bilingual family (French mother and British father,) living in France I thought your article was extremely interesting . Have you research on bilingualism ? It seems that when the mother is British and the father French and they both live in France their children seem to be more bilingual than when the mother is French and the father is British . This is what we called mother tongue , isn't it ? Time Published Niamh average rating is 3 out of 5 Such an interesting article! Time Published LOAD MORE

Cannabis Legalisation in Germany Olivia Marshall Wednesday 10 April 2024 Welfare Officer Liv looks into the recent legalisation of cannabis in Germany. CW: drugs As of 1st April 2024, it is now legal to possess and grow cannabis in Germany. The new law allows the possession of 25g of cannabis for personal use and growing of up to three plants at home for personal use. Past possession offences can also now be requested to be removed from criminal records. There are plans from July 1st for not-for-profit associations to be established whereby cannabis can be grown and supplied to members. Each association can have up to 500 members who will be able to receive up to 50g of cannabis each month. The goal of the law reforms is to curb the growth of the cannabis black market and improve the safety of the drug as it can be quality controlled. People will be informed of the potency and ingredients of what they are consuming, which is often an uncertainty when buying from drug dealers. However, in the short term, it is likely that demand will exceed legal supply, which may cause the black market to grow. This is a worry for police who will now struggle to identify drug dealers, as there is no way of knowing whether the cannabis people are carrying is for personal use or not. Apart from reducing black market transactions, drug legalisation can be beneficial in that it makes it easier for people who have addiction issues to seek help. It can also help combat racism as, according to statistics from the Ministry of Justice, black people in the UK are 12 times more likely to be prosecuted in relation to cannabis possession, despite the fact they consume the same amount as white people. Although it is still prohibited for people under 18, there are concerns that the cannabis legalisation in Germany may result in greater consumption among young people. Cannabis can affect the development of young people’s nervous systems, putting them more at risk of conditions such as psychosis and schizophrenia. In an attempt to counter this, the law stipulates that cannabis must not be smoked within 100m of schools and playgrounds. Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union, has promised to reverse the legalisation if his party win power at the next general election in 2025, in which case this change would be short-lived. Germany now has some of the most liberal cannabis laws in Europe; it is the third European country to legalise it after Malta and Luxembourg. Many European countries, such as Portugal and Spain, have decriminalised cannabis, which means someone possessing a small amount of the drug will not face criminal penalties, but it is still illegal. This is perhaps a step towards legalisation. If you are struggling with drug use, the university’s counselling service and student services can offer support. There are also further resources in Nottingham: https://www.nottinghamrecoverynetwork.com/ https://www.changegrowlive.org/the-place About the Author Related Articles 'A Victory for Feminism': How France Made the Right to Abortion Part of its Constitution Charlie Bodsworth Cannabis Legalisation in Germany Olivia Marshall The Reintroduction of the Eastern Black Rhino in Kenya Harriet Rothwell-Inch Copyright free images via Unsplash. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Germany global affairs Olivia Marshall Categories: Global Affairs Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

Exploring Spain through Erasmus Trips Grace Whitaker Tuesday 14 June 2022 Grace, a Modern Languages with Translation third year, tells us about the various Erasmus trips she went on whilst completing a semester abroad in Valencia, Spain. Read on to find out why Grace can fully recommend Erasmus trips for other students, studying or working abroad. Before arriving in Valencia for my study abroad, I had little knowledge of the city, except that it is on the eastern coast of Spain. However, upon arriving, I soon learnt that it is one of the most popular destinations for Erasmus students with thousands attending just my university. Thanks to this huge Erasmus population, several different companies offer weekly club nights and trips at the weekend. One of the benefits of these trips is that there is transport included meaning you can visit places that otherwise would have been too difficult to visit independently. In this article, I will list some of the places I visited during my time in Spain. 05.02.2022 – Alicante The first trip I went on was during my second week of living in Spain. About an hour and a half further down the coast from Valencia, Alicante is a coastal city, very popular with British holidaymakers. We visited the castle, had lunch and walked around some of the Old Town. I feel that doing trips like these really encourage you to make and find new friends; the girls I went to Alicante with nearly 4 months ago are some of my closest friends now! 20.02.2022 – Montanejos Montanejos is one of those places that would have been near-impossible to visit without an organised trip. It is a hot spring located deep in the Spanish countryside, around an hour from Valencia. We first completed a fairly challenging hike which included several moments of me thinking that this was the end. Luckily, I survived and then my friends and I were able to swim in the hot spring - very refreshing! 13.03.2022 – Xativa During the Fallas (a famous Valencian festival), we visited Xativa, a town further into the Comunidad de Valencia. We spent the majority of the day exploring the castle where we were able to watch the daily ‘mascleta’ – a type of firework display that occurs during Fallas. We then wandered around the town centre and ate some patatas bravas before returning home. 09.04.2022 – Zaragoza Zaragoza was the furthest place I had travelled just for a day trip, taking over 4 hours to travel there from Valencia. However, it was a beautiful city to visit, especially the basilica where we had a guided tour. The basilica looks over the river that winds through the city and offers amazing views. The famous Romantic painter Goya called the city home and so there is a museum dedicated to his work. Unfortunately, we ran out of time to visit. Despite the long journey from the east coast, this is certainly a city worth visiting! 30.04.2022 – Isla de Tabarca Last but certainly not least was our trip to the Isla de Tabarca, the smallest inhabited island in Europe, just off the coast of Alicante. We arrived by catamaran to the island, I felt like I was living my Mamma Mia dream! After some lunch, we found a little cove where we were able to sunbathe and go swimming - I had never seen such clear water before. The weather was perfect, it is definitely my favourite trip. Whether you are studying or completing an internship, I would certainly recommend researching Erasmus companies in your area, almost all major European cities have them. They are an excellent way to make friends and visit places to make the most of your year abroad. About the Author Related Articles Barcelona’s Hidden Gems: Live like a local and escape the tourists Mhairi MacLeod 48 Hours in Seville: Spain's Sunny City Niamh Woodhouse 7 Reasons to visit Santo Domingo Millie Adams Images provided by Grace Whitaker. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Spain Erasmus Day Trips Year Abroad Culture Grace Whitaker Categories: Travel City Guide Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

24 Hours as an English Student in Paris: A Survival Guide Kit Sinclair Thursday 3 March 2022 Kit gives us a tongue-in-cheek account of the typical day in the life of an Erasmus student in Paris. Read on to follow her day around the French capital! “‘Paris syndrome’ (n.) - a sense of disappointment exhibited by some individuals when visiting Paris, who feel that the city was not what they had expected.” To help you avoid this unfortunate affliction, our writer clues you in to some of the realities of Parisian living. 10:00 Wake up to the dulcet tones of your alarm. Luckily, class doesn’t start until noon. 10:30 Croissant for breakfast! You thought ahead yesterday and grabbed a pastry on your way home: not quite as soft and tasty as if you’d bought it on the same day, but still excellent. Next, it’s time for a shower - try not to flood your entire apartment this time. 11:30 You’ve established through trial and error that the commute to university takes half an hour. This is not quite as cushy as some of your fellow students who live a 10 minute walk away, but better than those who live on the wrong side of the périphérique (the ring road that encircles the city). 11:40 Time to battle your way through the métro station. Tap your Navigo card on the turnstiles and look disparagingly at the tourists using their paper tickets - you’re a proper Parisian. This sense of superiority is the only highlight of your commute. 12:00 Made it on time to class! Today you’re studying Hamlet ( en français , of course). French university classes are 3 hours long, so get as comfortable as you can at your desk. 13:30 Halfway through and you get a 10 minute break, hallelujah! The entire class, including the lecturer, swarms to the coffee machines and picks up an espresso for 50 cents. This is the best deal you have found in the entire city, so follow their lead and grab one for yourself. 15:00 Class is over! Your French classmates invite you to hang out with them afterwards. Everyone smokes here, so expect them to offer you a cigarette. Next follows a spirited debate about the ethics of capitalism. This is a conversation you’d have difficulty with in English, let alone French, so just nod along politely. Ah, la France. 16:00 You want to fit in some culture before dinner, so you brave Châtelet (one of the biggest underground stations in the world) and make a quick visit to the Pompidou. As a visa holder, you can still benefit from the free entry for 16-25 year olds. Take the escalators to the top floor and admire the view over the city - you have yet to get tired of staring at the Sacre Coeur or the Eiffel Tower. 19:00 Meet a friend for dinner at a nearby crêperie . You both opt for the very affordable set menu, which offers a galette , a crêpe and a glass of cidre for €12. Unfortunately, there’s glass in your salad. Try not to swallow it. 20:00 Move on to the popular nearby bar Café Vigouroux for some drinks. The ubiquitous happy hour lasts from 4pm-midnight, and you wonder if anyone has ever bought a full price drink. Cocktails here come in pints, and at such reasonable prices, how could you refuse? 00:30 Realise you should probably get home before the métro closes for the night. In your tipsy haze you have forgotten that there are 7 flights of spiral stairs back up to your flat, and no lift. Merde. About the Author Related Articles Barcelona’s Hidden Gems: Live like a local and escape the tourists Mhairi MacLeod 24 Hours as an English Student in Paris: A Survival Guide Kit Sinclair YEAR ABROAD TALES: Does Distance Make the Heart Grow Fonder? Francesca Wren Copyright free images via Unsplash. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Living Abroad France Paris Kit Sinclair Humour Categories: Travel Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE