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A young girl, glasses, ginger hair, and a smile on her face, eating a chocolate bar. Brianna Ghey’s photograph circled UK newspapers and magazines for all the wrong reasons. Brianna was a sixteen year-old girl from Birchwood, Cheshire, England who was murdered on 11th February 2023. She was found by the public lying in a park with fatal stab wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. A boy and a girl, both fifteen years-old, have been charged with the murder and will go on trial in July. Artwork by Kate Granholm (IG: @Katesartthings). Brianna’s mourning family described her as a ‘larger than life character’ who was ‘beautiful, witty, and hilarious’. She deserved to live into adulthood and lead a peaceful, fulfilling life. Brianna will never see her dreams, goals and ambitions come into fruition. Brianna will never again share a meal, a laugh, or a hug with her loved ones. Brianna was just a girl with her whole life ahead of her. Her death is a tragedy. As any human being, Brianna was a three-dimensional person with a complex, multi-faceted personality. As any human being, she would have had her likes, dislikes, qualities and faults. Brianna happened to be transgender. Too many consider this characteristic the largest, defining aspect of a trans person’s life, and too often this leads to hate. The intention here is not to reduce Brianna solely to her transness, for she was much more than that. However, Brianna’s friends and family have stated that she suffered cruel bullying and marginalisation by her schoolmates because of her gender identity. One of her peers stated that Brianna had even spoken about ‘ending it all’. It is highly likely, if not a certainty, that Brianna’s murder was fuelled by transphobic hate. The 2010 equality act protects trans people’s rights to access single-sex spaces according to their gender identity rather than the one they were assigned at birth. However, trans people are far from being adequately protected in this country. In January, for instance, the UK government blocked Scotland’s gender reform bill which lowered the age trans people can apply to legally change their gender to from 18 to 16. This was the first time since the devolution that Westminster intervened in such a manner in Scottish law, demonstrating the lengths the government will go to obstruct trans rights. Transgender people also experience difficulties accessing the healthcare they need to live their lives authentically. While not all transgender people desire to go through hormone therapies and/or gender-confirming surgeries, those who do have to endure extremely long waiting lists to not only get the treatments they need, but even to just to receive referrals and assessment that will allow them to gain access to those procedures. The Chalmers Gender Identity clinic in Edinburgh is currently contacting people who were referred in September 2020, meaning that the wait-list is over two-years long. Additionally, many transgender people face marginalisation in the healthcare environment as a whole, with 70% reporting that they have endured transphobic discrimination from their provider. Systemic transphobia is embedded not only in the political, legal and medical sphere, but also within the population’s psyche. Transgender people are the most targeted group in the LGBTQ+ community, with two in five (41%) trans people being victims of hate crime attacks within a 12-month period. But this may not be an accurate statistic, as 88% of transgender victims do not report hate crimes due to dissatisfaction with police response and frequency of abuse. 64% of trans pupils in UK schools experience relentless bullying. A quarter of trans people experience homelessness in their lifetime. More than four in five young trans people have self-harmed, while two in five have attempted to take their own life. And this is just the start. Due to UK law impeding individuals under the age of 18 to legally change their gender to the one they desire, Brianna’s death certificate will likely refer to her by her deadname and use he/him pronouns. Even in death, Brianna will not get treated with the respect and dignity that she deserves. Her murder is a hate crime. Brianna deserved better. Transgender individuals deserve to live in a world where they are protected and valued to the same standards as cisgender people. Thoughts and prayers are not enough. Writing this article is not enough. As vigils are organised across the UK, we must remember that Brianna’s murder was not just committed by two perpetrators; It was the product of a transphobic society that systematically oppresses, marginalises and attacks transgender people for the sole fact that they want to be themselves. Say her name. Rest in power, Brianna Ghey. Donate to Brianna Ghey’s family here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/brianna-ghey Transgender and non-binary helpline: Mindline trans + – Emotional and mental health support helpline for anyone identifying as trans, non-binary, gender variant, and their families, friends, colleagues and carers. Their phone line is open Mondays and Fridays, 8pm to midnight. Ring 0300 330 5468.

“Let me repeat again, we believe - I want to stress this - everything happening and connected with the special military operation is an absolutely forced and necessary measure”. This is Putin’s response to a Kremlin-approved journalist’s question of how exactly 2022 has gone for Russia. He stands in a suave suit, typical red tie and is seemingly his usual calm and though still unsettling self. He is, as ever, playing the part of a stable and certain leader. With a 16-year long career in espionage working for the KGB and political experience dating back to Boris Yeltsin, he plays this part incredibly well. Artwork by Innes Clark (IG: @Innesclarkillo). This sentence alone captures many of the techniques Putin uses in his speeches to achieve this unwavering appearance of certainty and composure. He uses two phrases to convey certainty before he goes on to make his key point: “let me repeat” and “I want to stress this”. He says “we believe” rather than “I” or “me” again to make it clear that he has considered and consolidated the advice and opinion of others. It is not a “war”, but rather “a special military operation”, a carefully calculated labelling which has been maintained since the invasion in February last year. This labelling has been so successfully maintained that really only Westernised or Russians with access to Western sources will refer to or recognise the events in Ukraine as a war. The majority of Russians who don’t know how to use a VPN or only watch Russian-state television will, unfortunately, not know of any other narrative. Besides, the Ukraine war is an absolute must and, according to Putin, his hands are tied - he has been “forced” into doing something difficult though “necessary”. Russian state news often heavily dissects and criticises speeches from Western political figures, including Zelensky, Truss, Biden, Johnson as a means to both discredit the West and boost Putin’s reputation of a great political figure. Zelensky’s speech in Washington from his USA visit in December 2022 was repeatedly mocked on state news - his hands are shaking, he has to hover his finger of his script otherwise he will lose his place, he attempts to speak in English rather than successfully doing so and he is ridiculously dressed, to name a few. To an average Russian television viewer, it doesn’t have to be explained that Putin would never do any of these things because they already know that is the case. There is no doubt that Putin can give a good speech and is a master of public appearance. In comparison to many Western politicians, something Putin is very good at is public speaking. You won’t catch him not knowing where he is, or saying “I’m not walking anything back”, in the words of Biden, the supposed shining beacon of the West. It starts with visuals. Putin is always immaculately dressed. There is usually not one or two flags behind him, but rather a myriad of them. Journalists never have to ask “are you actually going to answer my question?” because he always does, often breaking questions down into segments to make sure that he is answering them in full. He never visibly panics when asked what are at surface-level difficult topics. His answers are usually packed with statistics, mentions of Russia as the motherland, gratitude for the Russian military - he is a master of rhetorical devices, constructing propaganda and misinformation that is presented in an entirely coherent and logical manner. In short, Putin deliberately presents himself in a way that is very difficult to critique. What sprang to mind while watching one of Putin’s most recent press conferences is the time an old Russian teacher innocently and genuinely asked me if Boris Johnson was an alcoholic, having seen a video of him giving a speech with his usual matted hair, unkempt suit and chaotic tendencies. In contrast to Putin, it’s understandable to see why she thought I would be embarrassed to admit that this was my country’s leader, only made worse by the fact that this was around the time of partygate. There is no doubt that speeches have become the main weapon in Putin’s arsenal of maintaining control. There is a reason why Western media outlets are obsessed with reading in between the lines of his speeches - unnervingly, it’s almost impossible to determine what will happen next with Putin. He speaks like the dictators that came before him, and for good reason. In Moscow, you can see the body of Lenin, completely preserved in a glass box. I suspect Putin will expect the same treatment when he dies.

Amy Norton discusses the negative effects TikTok has on our mental health and productivity levels, suggesting ways that we can gain control back: Artwork by Mariam Tovmasian (IG: @tomwunderbar). Was lowering your screen time on your list of resolutions this year? Me too. I think we’re all tired of being embarrassed by those statistics. When I break it down, I’m never shocked by the culprit of the most damage: TikTok. My relationship with this app has always been a love-hate one, I’ve lost count of the number of times it has yo-yoed on and off of my phone. Each time telling myself that moving it into a hidden folder or setting time limits is going to help, TikTok always wins. So where does the app’s power come from? What exactly is causing the problem here, and what can we do about it? TikTok has been cleverly designed to be a productivity vacuum. The ‘For You’ page presents us with a never-ending curated stream of bite sized content to absorb. A ten second clip turns into hours and suddenly it’s dark outside. TikTok works in the same way that slot machines do: you scroll until you experience that dopamine hit of a video you like, and then you scroll again. In psychological terms, it’s known as ‘random reinforcement’, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. Either way you end up stuck in this unpredictable rewards cycle, a dopamine loop. Even when you eventually break free and go off the app, your brain begins to crave that pattern again and so you click back onto it throughout the day in order to satisfy it. For absolutely minimal effort, TikTok can be a hilarious, educational, and sociable experience. But are we in control? We know how easy it is to waste time on this app, it can put us in an almost hypnotic state where the sense of time passing seems warped. Sometimes, despite my full awareness of the minutes slipping through my fingers I can't seem to move, I’m stuck. This stolen time takes away opportunities for hobbies you might have once enjoyed. I think I move my book around my flat with the intention to read it more than I actually open the front cover. Even with the knowledge of my eaten-away hours on TikTok, I’m guilty of complaining about my lack of time to complete tasks. It can be difficult to hold yourself responsible and imagine what you could have done with those hours. Frequent users of TikTok would most likely agree that the app’s short and snappy videos have lowered their attention span. If we can't sit through a movie without scrolling, we’re certainly going to struggle staying focussed during a lecture– not ideal. Whilst TikTok’s sensitive algorithm can provide us with entertainment tailored to us, it can also repetitively show us content detrimental to our mental health. Our decision to simply watch a video to the end is enough to inform TikTok we want to see more like it. I know I have found myself in the past doom-scrolling through personally emotionally triggering videos, because TikTok delivered them especially to me. Instances like this can quickly cause depressive feelings and anxiety. It’s great that people are encouraged and feel comfortable enough to share very intimate and–more often than not–intense stories, but it can be overwhelming as a viewer. Our brains are just not used to being confronted with the sheer amount of varied content in one sitting. All that time spent viewing snippets of other people’s lives causes us to reflect on our own and typically in a critical way. We start to compare so many aspects of ourselves with what we see online, until our self-image becomes distorted from reality. Enough of the doom and gloom, what can we do about it? If you are somebody who feels like you have your TikTok usage under control already, firstly congratulations, and secondly this might still apply to you. I think it’s important to notice the way you feel when you are on the app, and how it makes you feel afterwards. Does spending a chunk of time scrolling make you feel better, or worse? If the answer is worse, then it is time to get a hold on it. I’m not suggesting everybody deletes TikTok, it’s worth trying to manage your experience using the app before resulting to that. Set time limits on your phone and press the “not interested” button to limit seeing content that you find triggering. Check in with yourself every now and then and remember that TikTok can function like every other social media: it is a highlight reel of people’s lives. So don’t waste your emotional energy on forming comparisons. But if this still isn’t working and you have been meaning to delete TikTok–then this is your sign, do it now! Then notice how life without the app makes you feel and what you manage to achieve. I think you’ll forget about it quicker than you might think. There are lots of other ways to increase dopamine– the mood-boosting chemical in our brains. Sleep is important, so replace scrolling on TikTok in the evenings with a healthier hobby that helps you wind down properly. As well as this, things like listening to music, interacting with people in real life, exercise and time spent outdoors all release dopamine. Taking part in any of these activities will leave you feeling more present, happier, and less embarrassed by those screen time statistics.

Edinburgh Gallery Society is a University of Edinburgh society in its first year dedicated to promoting upcoming student artists. Their latest student lead exhibition ‘Pursuit’ was a showcase of artist development, displaying the work of 60 artists. The focus of the exhibition was artists’ research and their creative process. This exhibition was not only an impressive display of the work of up-and-coming student artists, but also an opportunity for their voices to be heard and their creative process to be shared with art lovers. I found many of the pieces on display to be especially emotive due to the thought processes and inspirations expressed in the artists’ own words. The organisers of the event, the committee of the Gallery Society, explained that artists' research is often overlooked, so this exhibition aimed to put the artists’ voices at the forefront. Artwork by Kate Granholm (IG: @Katesartthings). The selection process of artwork for the exhibition was highly competitive with 107 applicants. The high standard of work on display is therefore no surprise; it is clear that Edinburgh University is not short of artistic talent. The exhibition itself was particularly impressive, considering the work which must’ve gone into curating a body of work which came together so coherently in the small gallery space at Patriothall in Stockbridge. All of the work was selected based, not only on its quality, but also on the meaning behind it. There were particular works in the exhibition which really struck me due to their process and how their meaning was expressed in the piece. One particularly striking piece was ‘The shared experience’ by Sophie Pywell, a large banner of calico hand embroidered with words expressing the shared female experience of day to day sexism. Not only did the words relate to my own experience of sexism, but the painstaking detail of each embroidered red letter evokes the importance of these words to the artist, mirroring the struggle of every-day sexism for women. Her reasoning for hand stitching the words - medium traditionally seen as ‘women’s work’ - also gives the piece a deeper meaning. The piece subverts this female gender role by using it to express women’s frustration in a patriarchal society. The array of different forms of art on display allowed for a range of processes to be explored. One piece by Esther Force was particularly interesting in its depiction of architectural spaces as well as its attention to detail. The four small canvases, she explains, can be part of a larger series or landscapes or dreamscapes, allowing for different configurations to be formed depending on how they are displayed. The canvases on display at the exhibition all portrayed architectural features, some very recognisable such as the Hunter Building at ECA, and others presenting more anonymous features such as a fire exit. Other paintings also represented recognisable scenes, not only showcasing Edinburgh artists, but the city itself. For example, ‘Jemima’s Tree Triptych’ by Jemima Jenkins which consists of 3 A6 colourful drawings in watercolour pastel, portrays scenes in Edinburgh. She explains that her exploration with colour to portray the changing seasons in the city have allowed her to create a personal connection with Edinburgh. The exhibition also included an interesting array of sculptures, from interactive displays to glass work. A particularly emotive and empowering sculpture was ‘Bessie Bracelet’ by Catrina Clark. The large sculpture made with spray and enamel paint on PLA and rope uses friendship bracelets to portray a narrative of Queer intimacy. The event which sparked the creation of the piece was the police raid on 25 Fitzroy Square in 1927 in which letters between queer friends were seized. The poster accompanying the piece tells how some of the recipients and writers of the letters were sent to hard labour, discontinuing the contact between queer friends. The piece therefore stands for the right of queer people to take up space, celebrating bonds between queer friends and healing their separation. Of course, there were many other noteworthy works in the exhibition, from oil paintings to tapestries to sculptures, all with thought provoking processes. But this exhibition was especially significant due to the opportunity it created for Edinburgh students and beyond to showcase their work in a professional art environment. The Gallery Society allows people to see the work of emerging creatives, and I will certainly be excitedly anticipating their next exhibition.

Walk into any bookshop these days, and you will inevitably find a stand of books with a sign declaring ‘TikTok made me buy it!’ or ‘As seen on TikTok…’ displaying an array of aesthetically pleasing books which have gained traction on TikTok, or its reading-oriented branch dubbed ‘BookTok.’ Izzy Mein tells us more: Artwork by Sophie Pywell (IG: @S.louise.pywell). The BookTok phenomenon has completely reshaped the book industry over the last few years, leading many to declare it the saviour of publishing in an increasingly digital world. The hashtag itself has garnered over 100 billion views, and has become so popular that it is now largely self-aware, with many booktokers now posting videos evaluating whether books that gained viral fame on the platform are worth the hype or not. While there are TikToks dedicated to every possible genre and author, there is a certain kind of book which has become synonymous with the BookTok label. Light, romantic and easily digestible, the rom-com is alive and well in the world of BookTok. With almost 3.5 billion views, the undisputed queen of BookTok is Colleen Hoover. Videos dedicated to ranking and reviewing her books get hundreds of thousands of views and she has become the main face of BookTok. Hoover writes romance novels, which in another era would have been tagged with the ‘chick-lit’ label, and like books often given that label, Hoover’s books can easily be dismissed as light, easy reading, but her numbers are serious business. The BookTok effect is real. Her most famous novel, It Ends With Us was published in 2016, initially selling 21,000 copies. As of the end of 2022, it has sold more than 3.4 million. She released a sequel, It Starts with Us in October of last year and it quickly became the most pre-ordered book in the publisher’s history, and sold 800,000 copies in a single day. If Hoover is the new face of ‘chick-lit’, then another old-school publishing label, the ‘beach read’, has been reinvented by the woman who is perhaps second-in-line to the BookTok throne: Taylor Jenkins Reid. Reid’s alluring worlds and web of intertwined characters have also become hugely popular on the platform. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, the story of a Golden Age Hollywood star in the mould of Elizabeth Taylor was first published in 2017, but as a result of its prominence on BookTok, sold half a million copies in 2022 alone. Quite apart from sales, it has already earned the honour of a Waterstones Hardback Special Edition, an accolade mostly reserved for long-established classics. Another Reid favourite, Daisy Jones and the Six, which follows a Fleetwood-Mac style band in the 1970s, is the source text for a hotly anticipated TV series produced by Reese Witherspoon for Amazon Prime, while Evelyn Hugo and her 2021 novel Malibu Rising also have adaptations in the works. Perhaps it’s the easy real-world analogues for the figures in Reid’s books that makes them ripe for easy marketing, or maybe her characters’ glamourous worlds just provide good, old-fashioned escapism. There’s no denying that Reid and Hoover, both of whom had been successfully published authors long before TikTok arrived in our lives, have benefitted from a rebranding of chick-lit, beach-reads and romance novels for a new generation. What remains true is that it is still an overwhelmingly female-driven and targeted segment of the industry. It makes sense that TikTok has come to replace the role of Book Clubs for Gen-Z, who, instead of gathering over a glass of wine and some gossip to share book recommendations, are doing it through social media. But it’s not just TikTok users that are reading these books; due to their pretty, pastel-coloured covers, prominent placement and advertising, anyone who walks into a brick-and-mortar bookshop is immediately drawn to a table highlighting them. Perhaps BookTok is merely a marketing tool, reinvented for the social media age, rather than a saviour for an industry struggling to keep up with our fast-paced modern age. As a phenomenon that exploded during the pandemic, it is hard to predict where BookTok will go from here. The books that have most benefited from the trend are obscure novels from a few years ago which have been rediscovered, or, in the case of Donna Tartt’s classic, The Secret History, being reclaimed by a new generation, rebranded under the Dark Academia trend. Now that publishers know the kind of sales a BookTok success can generate, will we see more novels following a new formula, trying to replicate the success of Hoover or Reid? As for the future of the book industry, it does seem more than a little ironic that a platform based around short-form content, blamed for shortening our attention spans, would be the saviour of such an analogue pastime as reading. However, 100 billion is a big number to dismiss. If we read even one of the books we come across after hours of endless scrolling, surely that’s a good thing? Over the past decade, social media has transformed every facet of our society, from entertainment to politics, and it seems like reading is only the latest.

The start of a new year and a new semester calls for some Monday morning motivation. I’m often tempted to snooze my alarm for as long as possible before getting out of bed and making my way to classes or to the library. However, my morning walk into uni has become much more enjoyable since I started listening to podcasts. From light-hearted comedy and gossip to more informative and educational conversations I’ve come across an array of podcasts that help to take my mind off assignments and the stresses of uni life. So here is a list of some favourites: Artwork by Ruby Tait (IG: @Rubyt.art). 1. Off Menu If you’re feeling overwhelmed, a comedy podcast is perfect to lift your mood. I’ve regularly embarrassed myself laughing out loud in the meadows whilst listening to Off Menu, a podcast hosted by James Acaster and Ed Gamble. The two comedians may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you’re looking for some stupid, meaningless comedy then they are the men for you. Each week they welcome a guest into their ‘dream restaurant’ where they are greeted by James who takes on the role of a genie with the ability to grant all of their food based desires. The guests tell Ed, James and the listener their dream starter, main course, drink and desert. This simple formula generates some hilarious conversation between the hosts and a star-studded collection of guests, from actors such as Timothy Spall, Joseph Quinn and Miriam Margolyes to comedians such as Greg Davies, Rosie Jones and Joe Thomas, and other well known celebrities like Brian Cox and Dynamo. 2. Gossip Mongers Another entertaining comedy podcast which was recently recommended to me is Gossip Mongers with David Earl and Joe Wilkinson. Listeners send in their ‘gossip’, stories which are usually outrageous, beyond belief and hilarious. David and Joe choose their favourite piece of unsubstantiated gossip at the end of the podcast which then goes through the gossip World Cup finals. Both Off Menu and Gossip Mongers are the perfect podcasts to listen to when you want to switch off and have a laugh. 3. The Girls Bathroom One of my favourite light-hearted podcasts has to be The Girls Bathroom with YouTubers Sophia and Cinzia. Each week, listeners send in their dilemmas which often concern friendships, relationships, work and uni life. Sophia and Cinzia give their advice, discussing what they might do in the same situation. This weekly dose of girly gossip is especially entertaining because of the chemistry between best friends Sophia and Cinzia and their funny takes on love and life, and the agony aunt format is the perfect listening for when you want to take your mind off your own worries. The episodes are around an hour long so they are perfect to listen to if you’ve got a mundane task to get on with. 4. Culture Vulture One podcast which I listen to religiously every week is Culture Vulture from Shit You Should Care About. The Hosts, Liv and Luce discuss the latest pop culture news including celebrity scandals and controversies, the newest music and movies and social media trends. Whilst the podcast has a lighthearted tone the hosts often discuss extremely relevant and often hard-hitting subjects, discussing culture within an intellectual framework. They often explain how pop culture is significant today in terms of politics, law and psychology, revealing its deeper meaning and impact. This podcast has helped me keep up to date with news and culture, whilst also providing some entertaining and thought provoking conversation. 5. Obsessed With… Obsessed with is a BBC Radio podcast in which the latest BBC shows are discussed by their celebrity fans and occasionally the writers and directors. This podcast is great if you want to learn more about your favourite TV shows as it provides an in-depth discussion of the making of the shows and the response they have received. TV shows such as Killing Eve, Inside Man, Happy Valley, Normal People and Peaky Blinders have been dissected on the podcast as they have come out. 6. Unreal Another entertaining podcast for TV lovers is Unreal from BBC Radio 4. This documentary series hosted by Pandora Sykes and Sirin Kale discusses reality TV shows over the years, their impact in our lives and the ethical questions surrounding them. From Big Brother to Love Island, the 10 episode series reveals how reality TV has changed over the years and the different issues the format presents. Interviews with former reality TV stars and creators give an insight into how they are made and the aftermath and effects of appearing on reality TV. 7. Where You From? Where You From? is a conversational podcast by Global, hosted by journalist Lillie Almond. The podcast explores what the question ‘where you from?’ means to people and how it makes them feel, investigating why people feel the need to ask it. Lillie speaks about her own experience of this question and how her first answer, London, is often met with another question: “but where are you really from?” Lillie wants to find out why her initial answer isn’t enough for people. This podcast gives an insight into the experience of people from minority backgrounds in our multicultural society, and the prejudices which are inherently connected to the question ‘where you from?’ The podcast is great if you’re wanting something informative, enlightening and engaging to listen to with guests such as Nish Kumar, Jaspreet Kaur, Nadia Hussain, Shannon Singh and Benjamin Alexander sharing their experiences of racism and othering, and how it has affected their careers and plays a huge part in their industries. Each episode follows a different personal story and guests discuss varied issues and prejudices they have encountered in their lives. 8. Exactly Another engaging conversational podcast is Exactly with Florence Given. This feminist podcast includes conversations with authors, psychologists, doctors, celebrities and cultural commentators surrounding topics such as sex, relationships, sexuality, queer dating, social media, envy, boundaries, masculinity and body image. It’s educational, insightful, hilarious and fun, the perfect podcast for anyone who wants to feel informed and empowered. 9. Today in Focus I recently started listening to Today in Focus, a podcast by the Guardian. Hosts Nosheen Iqbal and Michael Safi give a deeper understanding of the news through insightful analysis and conversations with writers, editors, journalists, critics and producers. This podcast is a great way to keep up with the news each day. Recent episodes have covered issues such as the strikes, the war in Ukraine, the experience of NHS workers, the arrest of Andrew Tate and upcoming film, TV, and music releases. 10. In Our Time In Our Time is one of the best educational podcasts I have come across. I’ve been listening to it since I was at school, and as a history student, it has been exceptionally helpful throughout my time at uni. Covering subjects such as history, philosophy, science and culture, In Our Time is the perfect study companion for any student. The host of the BBC Radio 4 podcast, Melvyn Brag, gives a comprehensive explanation and analysis of historical events, philosophical and scientific principles, and aspects of culture such as literature, music, and art. If you’re in need of a quick synopsis and analysis of a book, or an explanation of a philosophical theory, or you just want to learn more, this podcast is a good place to start. All of these podcasts are available to listen to on Spotify.

Zeus has to be one of the most well-known Greek gods of our time, but what exactly is he famous for? While his godly affairs are no secret and widely accessible, it seems that his legacy has been twisted and shaped by our media in a way that disguises his true nature. Zeus’s uncontrollable love for deceit, trickery and, most importantly, women, is not widely discussed. It seems his disguises have manifested outside of their myths as the media continues to portray him as an incredibly powerful, highly respected, and knowledgeable king. Simply put, Zeus is a rapist. Why, then, has the media hidden this from us? Artwork by Daisy Whittle (IG: @Daisydrawn). Carelessly hidden under a blanket of false media portrayals, the truth can be uncovered through the surviving myths of Greek women. From Europa and Callisto, to Io and Alcmene, it’s no secret that Zeus has assaulted many (and I mean many) women. In truth, there aren’t many children in Greek mythology that aren’t Zeus’s. Just to touch the surface, Europa was deceived by Zeus after he disguised himself as a beautiful white bull and carried her across the sea to the island of Crete. It was here, isolated from her friends and her home, that he assaulted her. Another, Callisto, was tricked by Zeus when he disguised himself as her most trusted mistress, Artemis, and began to seduce her. After gaining Callisto’s trust as Artemis, he revealed his true self and raped her, despite her distress and confusion. This mere drop in the ocean already demonstrates Zeus’s disregard for female consent and their lives as human beings. When consulting modern interpretations of Zeus, we can investigate films like Disney’s Hercules. It’s a film that a lot of us know well, and for many, it’s a childhood favourite. Hercules presents Zeus as a kind, loving father who was faithful to his wife Hera. In fact, in the film, Hercules’ parents are said to be Zeus and Hera, but when consulting the classical myths, we can identify that his mother was in fact believed to be Alcmene. She was another woman who was deceived by Zeus when he disguised himself as her husband, Amphitryon, and impregnated her with Heracles. While completely erasing Alcmene from the picture in Hercules is highly problematic, we can understand why such events were avoided in a children’s animation. Regardless, by removing Alcmene entirely, it aids in painting this false image of Zeus in pop culture and the media. He is presented as the “good guy”, and Alcmene’s voice is silenced. The film Clash of the Titans by Louis Leterrier is another example, presenting Zeus as a power-hungry ruler who is led astray by his evil brother Hades. Magically, by the end of the film, he returns to good through his compassion for his demigod son Perseus. Again, we see fatherly devotion and, in the end, kindness, which distracts us from the problematic sequences in the film. While Clash of the Titans does touch on the disguised side of Zeus very briefly, it is just that: brief. We are shown that Zeus had slept with the King of Argos’s wife, Danaë, disguised as the king. While this is better in exposing this side of Zeus, unfortunately it is emphasised that this assault on Danaë was to avoid punishing all the mortals for the king's rebellion. This reasoning paints Zeus as a merciful god in the film as he chooses to punish the few instead of the many. Ultimately though, this acts as an excuse for his actions. Danaë’s consent is not brought up once. By using her to punish the king, it establishes her as an object that is owned by her husband, rather than presenting her as her own person. Time and time again we see the horrific stories of Zeus’s actions pushed aside. It’s not only present in modern media representations, but also in old artistic representations. Take, for example, Renaissance paintings that are still hugely respected and studied today. Peter Paul Rubens’ 16th century painting Leda and the Swan is an admired painting that is based heavily off of a lost Michelangelo painting. At first glance we can identify a beautifully painted piece with a rich and romantic atmosphere. The woman, Leda, appears to be interlocked with the swan with no indication of a struggle. In fact, looking closely she appears to be calm and accepting of the swan’s advances. Digging deeper into this piece, though, we discover that this swan is Zeus in disguise (surprise surprise!), and Leda is yet another of his conquests. This painting is a depiction of the rape of Leda by Zeus, and by holding it in such high regard in the art world when the story behind the piece is rarely emphasised is highly problematic. This romanticised interpretation yet again aids in watering down and disguising the truth from us. Knowing all of this, it is difficult to see how Zeus is still respected today. Unfortunately, though, this is still widely the case. Some examples include: The Olympic games that we know today - it was revived in 1896, inspired by the ancient Greek Olympic games that were organised every four years in honour of Zeus. Athletes would pray to the almighty Zeus for success and provide gifts for him. The planet Jupiter - it is actually named after Zeus in his honour (his Roman name is Jupiter). Its four largest moons are named after Zeus’s “lovers”: Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. The fact that still to this day the women are referred to as his “lovers” feeds into the media's silencing and completely dismisses the women’s experiences as victims of sexual assault. Zeus tattoos - more and more people continue to get tattoos of the Greek god, and a quick google search of the meaning of a Zeus tattoo tells us all we need to know: “incredible strength and power”. This shows that people still hold him up on a pedestal as the powerful King of the Gods, but they do not see under his disguise. It was not always like this, as when we consult Ovid’s interpretation of Zeus in his 8 AD publication of Metamorphoses, he hides very little from the reader. A Roman text, Zeus is referred to by his other name, Jove (sometimes Jupiter). In the text, Ovid exposes many of Zeus’s disguises through a tapestry made by Arachne, a mortal woman, depicting the ugly side of the gods: Arachne’s picture presented Európa seduced by Jove in the guise of a bull; the bull and the sea were convincingly ​real. The girl appeared to be looking back to the shore behind her, calling out to the friends she was leaving, afraid of the ​surging waves which threatened to touch her and nervously lifting ​her feet. Astérië also was shown, in the grip of a struggling eagle; Leda, meekly reclining under the wings of the swan. And there was Jove once again, but now in the form of a ​satyr, taking the lovely Antíope, sowing seeds of her twins. You could see how he caught Alcména disguised as her husband Amphítryon, then how he stole fair Dánaë’s love in a shower of gold; how he cheated Aegína as fire; Mnemósyne, dressed as a ​shepherd; Prosérpina, Ceres’ child and his own, as a speckled ​serpent. Ovid, Metamorphoses (England: Penguin Books Ltd, 2004), book 6, lines 101-113. It seems that this 1st century passage of a mortal woman exposing Zeus’s wrongdoings has more female power in it than any of the pop culture stories told of him in the modern day. So, time and time again, why is a serial rapist allowed such power and fatherly compassion in modern interpretations? Well, the patriarchy and misogyny have a huge influence on this. Men who hold power and “take” many women are still respected, even to this day. It is ingrained into our society that women are not as powerful as men, and while we have come so far in deconstructing this in recent years, we are far from finished. It is rarely a priority to expose how problematic Zeus is and tell the women’s stories. The truth is, our media is still biased towards women. In fact, in 2019 in the UK, only 29% of quoted individuals in the news (either as experts, sources, or protagonists) were women. It was even lower in other countries: 25% in America, and 14% in India. These twisted interpretations of Zeus that the media prioritise conceal a truth that ultimately silences women and maintains his disguise. The powerful and fatherly Zeus that we all know should have been destroyed a long, long time ago, and the villain beneath the disguise revealed.

A secret location announced 36 hours before the show and an unknown lineup. Armed with nothing but a confirmation email, a thick winter coat and a healthy dose of excitement, we made our way to Leith not knowing what to expect of our first Sofar Sounds event. We had received an email the day before confirming the location as Under the Arch, a small independent café situated on Leith Walk. Upon arrival, the first thing we noticed was how cosy the space looked. Decked out in swathes of twinkling fairy lights, candles, and with a fire in the wood burner, the café had been transformed into the perfect ambient stage. The room felt incredibly intimate, with some of the audience members literally sitting at the artist’s feet on the cushions arranged on the floor. The audience’s first introduction to the artists came written on a chalkboard in the corner, with the names Alienore, Mariama and Ay Wing. We tried to resist giving each name a google before the show started, to keep the secrecy of the evening as intact as possible: Artwork by Zoë Brown (IG: @Zoe_r_art). Before each performance, a short introduction was given for the artists, providing the audience with an idea of the genres, stories, and sounds we would be listening to. First up was Alienore, an artist described as ‘witchy pop with indie and alternative influences’. Sold. Her performance was ethereal, with the soft strums of the guitar accompaniment undercutting her dreamy vocals. Filled with natural imagery, the lyrics of Alienore’s songs explore the relationship of nature to the human condition, as she told anecdotes about her experiences of growing up in the French countryside in between songs, to provide the audience with a fully contextualised introduction to her sound. The song ‘Paradise Lost’ was a standout, as Alienore explored her love of literature through the song, using Milton’s epic poem ‘Paradise Lost’ as a mirror for her own connections to the spiritual understanding gained through spending time in nature. Another highlight was the (unreleased) song ‘We Narcissus’, an exploration of life in the 21st century with the intrusion of technology and screens upon the human condition. This song seems to be at the core of what Sofar Sounds is about, as the evening provided a sense of escapism, as the entire audience were joined in the discovery of new music in an immediate way, separate to the Spotify algorithm, and together. After a short interval, where we were given time to pop up to the bar for a drink, the next act was introduced. Mariama was described as a singer-songwriter with truly global roots, with both her European and African heritage forging connections in her music. As well as this, we were told Mariama spent time in South America, and an inflection of Latin sound through the guitar accompaniment certainly brought some sonic sunshine to rainy Leith. The songs she performed were upbeat and lively, speeding up the tempo of the evening from the lilting opening of Alienore. Mariama performed songs from her album ‘Love, Sweat and Tears’ as well as demonstrating her new work, ready for her album release in spring 2023. The song ‘Grains of Wisdom’ was a highlight, as her impressive vocal performance filled the cafe, with layered harmonies played from her laptop as the stripped back nature of the event meant there was no need for a full backing band. The novelty of performing these songs live has not worn off for Mariama following the pandemic, as she explained in between songs that the ‘added extras’ of live performance creates a musical experience far more special than listening to the recorded versions. The final performance, by R&B artist Ay Wing was a perfect sign off for the evening. Described as a driving force of the Berlin music scene, Ay Wing performed songs from her recently released album ‘Bloodstream’. She explained the importance of femininity and womanhood in her songs, as a medium for exploring these aspects of herself while simultaneously uplifting others. Despite the upbeat nature of the songs she performed, the sensual quality of her lyricism was still felt, combining synth with sensitivity. The final song of her set, and the final of the night, was a special rendition of her song ‘No Wonderwoman’ for which she brought out Alienore and Mariama to sing the harmonies. All three artists are Berlin-based and were participating in a small UK tour, performing at various Sofar events in cities such as London and Glasgow, as well as Edinburgh. Their synthesis in ‘No Wonderwoman’ was clear, as the three women shared the space together to perform a song with a strong message of female empowerment. The community of womanhood was acutely felt in the room, as the audience was encouraged to join in and sing along to the catchy hook. The draw of Sofar Sounds is that these performances were unique to the event and to the venue. It’s exciting to think about who could be performing in Edinburgh next, and where this could be. From abandoned buildings, to art galleries, to private living rooms, Sofar Sounds continues to put on regular secret events. A ticket to the unknown, but with the reassurance of discovering new music. Sara Sutherland, the event producer of Sofar, explained that for upcoming musicians, applying to be on a Sofar lineup is a great way to get your music into the ears of a whole new audience. There is an inevitably high demand for slots since Covid, but the regularity of the secret sessions means there is plenty of time for everyone to experience a touch of the Sofar Sounds magic. Alienore and Ay Wing were supported by Edinburgh-based guitarist, Harry Higgs. After speaking further with him, we learnt that his impressive musical background has led him around the world – from California to Eastern Australia – and ended up in Edinburgh. He seems to be well-integrated in the Edinburgh music scene, and came across Sofar Sounds 5 years ago as one of the organisers worked on a show that he was involved in. He volunteered as a supporting artist and did occasional MCing, then met Ay Wing and performed with her to an audience in the impressive Usher Hall. More recently, he performed at a Sofar sounds event in Glasgow in his current duo, which mostly plays a jazz-folk crossover. Whilst we both agreed it seems unnatural that artists cannot promote their gigs with Sofar Sounds until the day before or day of the show, Harry said he could understand the reasoning behind it, and it seems less necessary than normal as there is already a captive audience ready to discover new music. To end, Harry said that although competition is now high following Covid, he has never been busier, a positive sign for him and for the regrowth of live music in Edinburgh. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening and we loved being able to interact with each of the artists. If you’re looking for something new to try in Edinburgh, a Sofar Sounds night should definitely be on the cards! Check out the artists on Instagram: @alienoremusic, @mari.ama___, @aywingmusic, @harry88hammer

When Lizzy Bennet rejected Mr Darcy, would she have angrily stomped through her beloved English countryside to the latest Killers song, or is she more likely to have sardonically muttered the lyrics to ‘Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve’ under her breath? Does Heathcliff just scream heavy metal or are we thinking something a little more soulful for our brooding antihero of the Yorkshire moors? What about Jo March? Frankenstein’s monster? Clarissa Dalloway? Winnie the Pooh? I’m sure we’ve all had this debate at one point or another. I don’t know about you, but when you hit 4am at a flat party, hours after everyone probably should have left, the inevitable lull in conversation happens and suddenly you hear: “I bet the Bennet sisters would have been Swifties.” If this situation doesn’t sound somewhat familiar to you, firstly, just what HAVE you been doing? And secondly, your luck has clearly changed, because fate has conspired to bring you to an article that is going to set the debate surrounding some of your favourite characters to rest. Artwork by Alison Laing (IG: @Alisonlaingart). Sherlock Holmes Let’s face it, I couldn’t write for an Edinburgh-based magazine and not include a character from our very own Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. We know Sherlock’s address, his singular fashion style, even his drug of choice. His modern music taste, however, we can only guess. It’s my opinion that twenty-first century Holmes unwinds after a long hard day of cracking cases with a mix of the Eagles, some Arctic Monkeys, a bit of Cage the Elephant and a dash of Hendrix thrown in for some spice. If there’s one thing these artists have in common, it’s that they are excellent to both brood and head-bang to, something Holmes does in equal measure. If he’s not answering ‘Do I Wanna Know?’ with an emphatic yes and eye-roll, then he’s going to be adjusting his pipe so he can mime the guitar solos in 'Purple Haze’ and ‘Hey Joe’. Elizabeth Bennet It takes one Swiftie to know another, and I stand by what I said earlier: Elizabeth Bennet would be a hardcore Swiftie. She was almost certainly on her Vigilante Shit when she turned down Mr Collins. It was definitely Death By a Thousand Cuts for Lizzy whilst she wandered around the Pemberley Estate and (finally) realised what an utter dreamboat Mr Darcy is. I’d even go so far as to say that if you listen hard enough, you can practically hear ‘Call It What You Want’ playing when Liz smacks down Lady Catherine like the boss bitch she is. A love like Lizzy and Darcy’s never quite goes out of Style, and I can even picture their first Christmas together, Pemberley filled with the sounds of laughter, the clink of crystal glasses and ridiculously expensive silverware… and ‘Christmas Tree Farm’ playing in the background. Which is her T-Swizzle era, you ask? Why, all of them, darlings. At least, until you piss her off. Then you’d better be Ready For It to be Reputation all the way. Heathcliff Our Heathcliff is probably the most mysterious figure on this list. Aside from the unexplained three-year absence where no one quite knows what the chap got up to (launching his pop career? Picking apart daisies while softly murmuring ‘she loves me. She loves me not’?), he is also notoriously reticent when it comes to talking about his feelings. That is, until they all come out in a flood of poetic chaos that makes one simultaneously clutch their pearls and swoon in equal measure. For that reason, I think Heathcliff would of course be a Smiths fan, but also a secret Adele listener. Even he will admit that it certainly felt a bit like Chasing Pavements where Cathy was concerned. U2 will also be making an appearance - maybe not ‘Beautiful Day’, but definitely ‘With or Without You’. Let’s face it, these two are the Ross and Rachel of Yorkshire, so they would without doubt stare out the window at the incoming downpour and marvel at how Cathy managed to give herself away to the wrong guy. Jo March I imagine dear Jo with the most singular music taste known to man. I don’t doubt that she’d enjoy a Peach Pit or Bleachers song every now and then, but Jo knows better than anyone that you are what you listen to, and her taste would be more unpredictable than most. She’d start off her day right with some Maggie Rogers, sure. Yet by the time her elevenses hit, she’d have veered right into Lizabett Russo and Adia Victoria-territory and be humming Troubled Mind as she walked the streets of New York. The afternoon would see her relax with some girl in red, maybe a bit of Plumb for nostalgia’s sake, and in the evenings? Why, it’s got to be First Aid Kit and Brandi Carlile while she unwinds from a hard day of being the modern girl’s favourite fictional EveryWoman. Matilda Wormwood This may be controversial, but I see Matilda as a diehard rock and roll fangirl. She’s always been older and wiser than her years, so for me, it’s not hard to imagine that a more modern Matilda would have The National’s latest album playing in the background while she reads Great Expectations for the first time. The Beach Boys and The Killers have also got to be making an appearance - after all, there’s not a better song than ‘The Man’ for Matilda to rock out to once she succeeds in vanquishing Miss Trunchbull from Crunchem Hall. Dare I say, she would also join Heathcliff at a Smiths listening party? Should he be in one of his better moods, that is - we’d hate for Matilda to have to glue a hat to Heathcliff’s head after he’d told her to “go to the devil” when she asked to listen to their Greatest Hits album with him.

Edinburgh is a beautiful city; from Arthur’s Seat to the Castle, it is a place bustling with both physical and cultural activities to carry out alone, with family or even friends. However, when I first arrived in Edinburgh in autumn 2019 I found it difficult to engage with the city’s numerous cultural opportunities, as I was preoccupied with fresher events, meeting new people, making friends, and going out. While these are both essential and entertaining parts of university life, I would have found it helpful to have a simple guide to Edinburgh’s cultural events and places so that I could maintain my passion for art and history alive while simultaneously navigating my new life as a university student. So, without further ado, here is a student-friendly guide to Edinburgh’s best museums and galleries!: Artwork by Mariam Tovmasyan (IG: Tomwunderbar). The National Galleries of Scotland This is perhaps the most famous art museum in Edinburgh, as it houses Scotland’s national collection of fine art. We can link its origins to the Royal Institution for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts in Scotland, founded in 1819, when it started to acquire paintings. It is an umbrella organisation comprised of three different museums, all of which are located in Edinburgh. Admission is free for all three, making it a great option for students on a budget! It consists of: The Scottish National Gallery - The Mound Located right next to Princes Street Gardens, this was the first of the three museums to be founded. It contains Scottish and International art spanning from the beginning of the Renaissance up until the start of the twentieth-century. Among its most famous works of art are Landseer’s Monarch of the Glen and Botticelli’s Virgin Adoring the Sleeping Christ. This museum is a must-see if you’d like to get introduced to European Old Masters’ art. The Portrait Gallery - Queen Street As suggested by the name, this gallery specialises in Portrait Paintings, mostly dedicated to important individuals throughout Scottish History. It houses an impressive portrait of Mary, Queen of Scots, created by an unknown artist. Exhibited on the second floor, it is the museum’s main attraction. The Portrait Gallery has the advantage of being in a great spot - right in the middle of New Town. It is particularly close to St. James’ Shopping Centre. A trip to this museum would be for a cultural break during a day of shopping, or even for relaxing around the area. Make sure to check it out! Modern Art Gallery - Belford Road Completing the National Galleries trio is the Modern Art Gallery, which displays works of art of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, including sculptures by the renowned Joan Miró. If you like parks and gardens for a bit of fresh air, look no further, as this museum has a beautiful front-lawn designed by landscape architect Charles Jencks. This is also a great way to get to know a corner of the city that students do not usually venture to. Why not take a stroll around the quaint Dean’s Village while you’re in the area, walk along the beautiful Water of Leith, or explore the quirky independent shops of Stockbridge? Fruitmarket - Market St. This is a modern and contemporary art gallery that opened in 1974, located just in front of Waverly Train Station. Its permanent collection contains mostly works from the early twentieth-century, particularly from the Art Nouveau movement, but most of its spaces are dedicated to temporary displays. Currently, it features an exhibition by Glasgow-based artist Hayley Tompkins. It is also committed to presenting work by up-and-coming artists and amateurs, as is evident by its upcoming Endless Love Creative Makers workshop and exhibition of Scottish craft and design. Fantastic for a quick visit if you have some time before catching a train! Jupiter Artland - The Steadings This contemporary sculpture park is situated in the outskirts of Edinburgh (sitting on the grounds of 19th-century villa Bonnington House) making it perfect for a fun day-trip out of the city. It was founded in 2009 by philanthropist art collectors Robert and Nicki Wilson, and it houses an eclectic collection of contemporary sculptures spreading over 100 acres of meadow and indoor spaces. However, there is a catch! It is only open to the general public in the summer months, from May to September. The good news is that if you’re impatient, they are hosting a Christmas Fair event on 3 and 4 December. Could it beat Edinburgh’s Christmas Market? National Museum of Scotland - Chambers Street Its varied blend of natural history displays, historic scientific advancements exhibitions, as well as rooms dedicated to the antiquities and customs of different cultures around the world makes this a museum catered to everyone’s interest. The Grand Gallery is architecturally beautiful, featuring long columns, arches, and a glass ceiling letting in natural sunlight. This spot is a must-see for a culture trip and is particularly well-suited for groups of friends with passions, as anyone can find something they like in here! People’s Story Museum - Canongate If you are interested in social Scottish history, then look no further. This unique museum is aimed at telling the often overlooked story of working-class people in Scotland from the 18th-century to the late 20th century. Its displays include tableaux, objects, original artifacts, waxworks and letters that manifest the social issues of the past two centuries, relating them to contemporary contexts. Museum of Childhood - High Street Ready for some nostalgia? Perhaps the city’s most peculiar museum, it was the first place in the world to be dedicated to the history of children and childhood. In its spaces you will find childrens’ toys, clothes, games, books and dolls, spanning from the beginning of the 19th-century to the present day. Amongst its favourite objects are the BuzzLightyear action-figure from the Toy Story film, an original x-box, and a Radio Rex - a voice-activated toy from the 1920s. There you have it! I hope this guide has been helpful, and if you have any more museum or gallery recommendations, feel free to contact us! We would love to hear your thoughts!

Patricia Köhring takes us through her day of exploring some of the most vibrant independent literary hubs that the city of Edinburgh has to offer, alongside discussing the invaluable worth of independent bookstores: Artwork by Kate Granholm (IG: @Katesartthings). It's the last week of November and for once, albeit very temporarily, I am not bound to the library or imminent deadlines. This condition made my day's excursion around the independent bookshops of Edinburgh possible and ever the more joyous. As an English Literature student, I am, of course, guilty of succumbing to the low prices and efficiency of online book shopping- eBay has become impossible to avoid entirely- but it is in the independent shops that my book-loving heart resides. So come along, follow through this article as I visit a few literary hubs in this literary city, and converse with individuals who agree with me and believe in the value and necessity of independent bookshops: 10:30 @ The Edinburgh Bookshop: A Conversation With Marie, The Edinburgh Bookshop Matriarch ( 219 Bruntsfield Pl, Edinburgh EH10 4DH ) When I planned my trip to The Edinburgh Bookshop this Thursday, I hadn't known that primary schools would be off that day. This realisation soon dawned upon me as I entered the otherwise peaceful little Bruntsfield shop and nearly collided with a child and the bundle of books she seemed eager to go home with. This girl wasn't the only one around either; two other families were browsing the colourful shelves with their little ones tailing after. Of course, there were a few elderly people as well - one lady appeared engaged in a familiar and good-humoured conversation with who I assumed was the store owner. On the whole, I felt like the new neighbour, invited over for a big, jolly family dinner. Still, cliché as it sounds, I felt a warmth merely through my presence in the bookstore. While the booksellers were occupied with the family frenzy at the counter, I immersed myself in my favourite activity: book browsing. Unlike some independent bookstores, the selection at The Edinburgh Bookshop didn't seem to insist on a classification. Instead, what was offered here was a careful selection of a bit of everything. Sure, I glimpsed Richard Osman on the centre table, but this store was certainly not an ode to the top 100 Sunday Best-sellers. After I had, guiltily, bought a Christmas is Murder by Val McDermid (my pile of books is growing at an exponential rate and has extended to the carpeted floor of my flat), I had the pleasant opportunity to speak with the owner. Marie appeared to me the embodiment of a friendly and passionate bookseller. She began our conversation by giving me some background on the shop. It was initially opened in 2009 by two former publishers, but with the change of ownership only a few years later, the store came into bloom and became a community-oriented place for booklovers of all ages. Marie revealed that this focus on their customers was now key to the business. Like most "indies", she said, The Edinburgh Bookshop is under no illusion that they can compete with wholesalers like Amazon or eBay, so they revel in creating relationships with the surrounding neighbourhood and catering to the needs of their regulars. They intend the store to be a homely place where people won't only find books that they'll love but can also feel comfortable enough to have a cup of tea and a chat or even take a seat on the red velvet sofa at the front of the store (where I conducted my meeting with Marie). She also mentioned a few other personal touches the store had implemented to further engage with their familial community. For example, every child who visits is offered a sticker (whether or not they leave with a book), and despite their limited delivery services, they offer free deliveries to customers who, for different reasons, can't physically come down to the store. Ultimately, if there ever was a bookstore that manages to feel like a living room warmed by human love and perhaps a rustic hearth, The Edinburgh Bookshop is the one. 11:15 @ Armchair Books: A Reclining Drake ( 72-74 West Port, Edinburgh EH1 2LE ) Next on the agenda was a visit down to Grassmarket, where I hoped to speak with someone at the family-run, heavily maze-like Armchair Books. Unfortunately, the present bookseller expressed a disinclination in acting as a store representative in an interview; a shame for me, but understandable all the same. Nonetheless, Armchair Books deserves recognition here. The store is eclectic and well-stocked, lined, wall to wall, with books boasting vintage covers and dusty spines. For those who are enamoured by the literary heritage of Edinburgh, this store will live up to your historical fascinations more perfectly than any other in town. There is a fantastic range of affordable second hands and valuable rare books - the last time I went, I spotted a second edition of Alice in Wonderland. The store is a flash from the past if I've ever experienced one, and the Armchair Books website describes the store with an undeniable superiority to anything I might have written; "In view of the castle, above the Grassmarket, it bakes under the torrid Scottish sun. The dangers are manifold; our overburdened shelves groan like masts in a squall, our threadbare and quasi-oriental rugs may distractingly catch the eye or foot. Books in the window may spontaneously burst into flames, and the Managers must be kept locked in at all times.... Sporadically under feeble but sinister attack by thecgovernment, we struggle under goad of Fear, towards Beauty." With this hommage to the independent store, I'll leave this poetic interlude at Armchair Books. 12:00 @ Tills Bookshop: 'In Other Words, the rise of works in translation ( 1 Hope Park Cres, Newington, Edinburgh EH8 9NA ) I resume my quest and return to familiar territory, Hope Park Crescent on the Meadows. Most University of Edinburgh students who wander around the George Square campus will recognise the name of this next store. Tills Bookshop stands dark and green on the North East corner of the Meadows. The store was first opened by Rick and Ann Till in 1985 but is now run by two former teachers and academics. Having been in Tills before on a hunt for Anna Freud's Defense Mechanisms, I was already aware of the extensive academic section that the store boasts. When asking the bookseller about this, she said that though the owners of the store don't want their store to target a specific demographic, they have a personal investment in academic works and therefore decided to split the store into two sections, with half of it dedicated to fiction and the other half to nonfiction. The bookseller noted that the nonfiction section is, in fact, extremely popular, especially with university students looking for affordable and slightly 'niche' works. In addition, the store relies almost entirely on the Edinburgh community's sale of preloved books, which makes the size of their collection even more impressive. For me, though, the bookstore's main appeal is its investment in works in translation. Over the summer,Tills set up an outdoor stall titled 'In Other Words’, in a retired police box opposite the store. Unlike the secondhand books of the main store, their pop-up shop featured new editions of translated works, fiction and nonfiction, by small publishers. I recall speaking to the bookseller in the stall several times when I passed by and was repeatedly amazed by the knowledge she demonstrated regarding the books on sale. Upon asking for recommendations, she didn't hesitate to point at a copy of The Journey of a Caribbean Writer (2014) by Maryse Condé: a phenomenal read that nearly swayed me to change my dissertation topic (if only my indolence hadn't gotten the better of me). Anyhow, despite the cold weather and the closing of the outdoor stall, the bookseller I spoke to revealed plans for an indoor corner that would function with the same purpose of promoting transnational literature and minority voices. Definitely stay tuned for this. 13:30 @ Rare birds books: Girl, Woman, Other ( 13 Raeburn Pl, Stockbridge, Edinburgh EH4 1HU ) An hour and a half later, I am sat on bus 29, en route to the farthest destination of the day; Rare Birds Books in Stockbridge. This store claimed my intention through its unique quality; Rare Birds is the only bookshop in Scotland that features works solely by women writers. Speaking to Sara, the store manager, I discovered more about the recent but exciting history of the store.The idea for an all-women writing bookseller began in 2017 when the owner, who had been recommending books by female authors for years, decided to create a book club where such conversations could extend transnationally. Today the book club hosts members from over 23 countries and involves subscriptions, blind book bundle orders, talks, and a blog that offers a space for people to seek recommendations and read about the books sold through Rare Birds. In 2021, the brick-and-mortar shop was launched, and it has only been expanding since then. Starting off with fiction, primarily, the store has recently expanded its space and opened up a nonfiction and essays section. Sara also disclosed that further plans for a children's and YA area are in the works for later this year. In my conversation with the store manager, I was warmed by her enthusiasm for the Rare Birds initiative. Sara emphasised the necessity of opening up a space for inclusivity and featuring women writers who are often neglected or unintentionally thrown under the rug in favour of established bestselling authors. Rare Birds is interested in spotlighting female writers from all over the world and texts from a wide array of genres. This is a store, Sara said, where women of all backgrounds should be able to find a book that they can connect with in a meaningful way and, perhaps, learn something from. I, for one, can't argue against the initiative here. 14:45 @ Lighthouse Books: R is for Radical ( 43-45 W Nicolson St, Newington, Edinburgh EH8 9DB ) Finally, I end my journey with the famous home for 'radical' works, The Lighthouse Bookshop. This is a store with a refreshing focus on feminism, climate change, the arts, leftist politics and Queer literature. Its presence is only slightly ironic, opposite the beer drinkers and (currently) Qatar World Cup watchers of The Pear Tree... Doing some digging, I discovered that West Nicolson Street has been a centre for political literature for years. Prior to Lighthouse, the store was an overtly Communist bookshop launched with the name 'Word Power' in the early 90s. Since then, the store has developed with the times to encompass works relevant to current conversations, i.e. surrounding gender politics or fourth-wave feminism. One must be careful, however, not to label Lighthouse Books in terms too definitive. On their website, they clearly announce their aim to "challenge dominant and domineering ideologies and champion diversity, equality and free speech.". Though there is a political inclination, the store's shelves are as diverse as their featured author; at Lighthouse, one can find poetry, history, biography, cookbooks, children's books, nature writing, fiction and more. After browsing through such a plethora of works, I again had the opportunity to exchange words with a store manager. Lindsey truly emphasised her belief in creating safe spaces where conversations can be started and where people can find books that explore heteronormativity and give voice to underrepresented demographics. The store manager also highlighted the 'Radical Book Fair', which the Lighthouse hosts in Roxy Assembly Hall every November, with great success in the Edinburgh community. The book fair hosts book sales and panel events (recorded and still accessible on their website) with professionals, academics and writers. One of the '21 talks was on 'Feminist Futures', led byAkwugo Emujulu, a political sociologist at Warwick University, but Lindsey also mentioned that events are held throughout the year by student societies and individuals engaged in related topic matters. There really is no excuse not to enter this store. If there ever was a 'woke' book store, Lighthouse is it. 18:00: So…where are we? It is 6pm. The sun has since long retired, and thus my day of bouncing between bookshops has at last expired. I'm back in my living room. Now, what can I say of my day? Were there discoveries made? I left this morning to interview the people at independent bookstores and then write a piece on why we should support them, but I see now that I have reached the end of my article without having done a whole lot of promoting. All I seem to have expressed is the different personalities of the independent bookshops I voyaged to. Oh well, excuse my negligence and turn with me now to examine some of the aspects of the bookshops I observed to more explicitly uncover the value of these independent bookstores: First of all, it must be noted that the sellers at independent bookshops - and this applies to every single one of the stores I visited today - are invested in their inventory in a way that is far less common at sellers, especially online wholesalers. The individuals I met today impressed me with their keen knowledge of and apparent love for the works they were selling. Such genuine care and interest were directed too, at the shops themselves as well as at the people that visited them; in nearly all of the shops, I saw owners or managers engaged in conversations with their customers. The interest expressed in the local community truly reflected the quality of connections and relationships between readers and sellers I witnessed throughout the day. So, largely, independent bookshops are unique because they have personality. Lacking the space for all of the bestsellers of the 21st century, the individuals working at independent bookshops have to be extra scrutinous in their selections of work. A balance has to be found in providing the community with their needs and ensuring the chosen works stay on theme with the image and ambitions of the store. Often, however, smaller bookstores offer a variety of products that range beyond what you might find on the shelves of mainstream booksellers (like WH Smith). In addition, independent bookstores often support smaller publishers and up-and-coming local writers who might face depressingly short or non-existent shelf lives elsewhere. Less spoken of is the economic benefit independent bookstores can have in communities. Smaller bookstores recycle a much more significant portion of their sales revenue to the local economy than online sellers would. Additionally, they source locally more often, provide jobs to people in their communities, and more frequently collaborate with other local businesses and charities, which are all beneficial to local society at the end of the day. Finally, many independent bookshops in Edinburgh function beyond their retail titles. Lighthouse Books and Rare Birds, in particular, focus on events that promote literacy, learning and engagement with topical issues. This means that often, independent bookstores can have a broader impact on society, promoting integration and diversity and providing informative sources through means accessible to local communities. I hope this article inspired you to support Edinburgh's independent bookshops, which in turn, are ever working to support the city's title as a literary capital. Au revoir!

Georgia Bennett provides an update of the targeting of various energy supplies in Ukraine by Russia, the response to it inside Ukraine and abroad as well as mentioning the ripples of issues it is causing in Eastern Europe: Artwork by Sophie Pywell (IG: @S.louise.pywell). In October, Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, reported a third of the country’s energy sector had been obliterated by Russian strikes. Since then, the destruction of energy and water supplies has worsened dramatically, reaching a dire level that has left almost no thermal or hydroelectric stations functioning. This poses a deadly threat to the civilian population. Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, the chief executive officer of Ukrenergo (the principal electricity transmission system operator in Ukraine), has stated that “The scale of destruction is colossal. In Ukraine there is a power generation deficit. We cannot generate as much energy as consumers can use.” On Thursday the 24th of November, around 70% of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, woke to a power outage amidst the harsh winter. Temperatures have fallen to sub-zero, endangering all civilians but particularly vulnerable groups such as the elderly. The missiles have also caused blackouts in many other parts of the country such as Lviv, killing ten and wounding fifty The precarious state of energy in Ukraine has led the British Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, to announce critical practical support to aid Ukranians through the winter in a press release on Friday the 25th of November. Having travelled to Ukraine to fortify hardline British support, Cleverly also announced a further £3 million for the Partnership Fund which will rebuild indispensable infrastructure in Ukraine such as the train network, port reconstruction, airport runways and bridges. This follows the Prime Minister announcing a £50 million package of defensive military support as well as providing 35 emergency vehicles including ambulances and armoured vehicles on Saturday the 19th of November having met with President Zelensky that day. Despite these setbacks and targeting of energy supplies, all three Ukrainian nuclear power plants are functioning again and are poised to return to their typical output only two days after the missile strikes. The source of nuclear power is crucial to Ukraine, forming half of the country’s energy supply. Russia’s targeting of nuclear power plants has led to increased concerns over nuclear accidents - that could cause disastrous fallout after this close call. The inhumane targeting of energy and water supplies will have a devastating and widespread effect; vast numbers of civilians will be affected due to the reverse exodus in recent months that has seen many refugees returning home to Ukraine. In June, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees documented that 2.6 million refugees of the 7.7 million who had left their homeland had returned to Ukraine, accounting for a third of Ukrainian refugees who will now be unsafe not only due to missiles but a lack of access to running water and heat within their homes. The Mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko told the BBC that the “worst scenario”, the city being without electricity, heat and water, could not be ruled out. Despite these drastic setbacks at the hands of Russian missiles, President Zelensky posted to social media that, “Light always prevails over darkness”. Additionally, in his nightly address on the 24th of November, the President emphasised the unity and teamwork used in fixing these issues: “Energy workers, utility workers, business – everyone is doing their part to give light again. This is truly a nationwide task – Ukraine is working as unitedly as possible in this”. The ripples of energy outages have been felt in neighbouring countries too. The same missiles have caused blackouts across half of Moldova (according to their government). The Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita has also accused Russia of energy “blackmail”. This follows the Russian state-run Gazprom energy corporation threatening to reduce gas flows to Moldova via Ukraine beginning the week of the 28th of November. Amidst winter, this poses a great threat to the Moldovan population due to their reliance on Gazprom and Russian energy. On the recurring damage and threat to energy infrastructure Ukraine is now facing, Hans Henri P. Kluge, the regional director for the World Health Organisation, informed journalists on Monday the 21st of November that “Put simply, this winter will be about survival”. As energy and water supply hardships continue and neighbouring political tensions strain, Zelensky’s next actions will be paramount to Ukraine’s endurance not only through the winter but in the war itself.