RAZZ is Exeter University's arts and lifestyle magazine. Get in touch: [email protected]
You can read all of the archived magazines at https://issuu.com/razzmag or access our Online Edition via https://razzmag.wordpress.com
2020/21 Committee:
Print Editor and Co-President: Caitlin Barr
Online Editor and Co-President: Senthur Shanmugarasa
Deputy Print Editor: Daniella Clarke
Deputy Online Editors: Amie Greenhalgh and Phoebe Ovenden
Copy Editors: Erin Zammitt and Aimee Fisher
Creative
Director: Francesca Sylph
Outreach Officer: Josie Orr
Treasurer: Maddie Linehan
Welfare Officer: Bridie Adams
Welcome back everyone! We hope you have settled back into university life. Here is the first article of 2022/23 from our Renaissance themed content call. Enjoy!
By Manon Martini
As modern-day feminists, many of us associate the art of feminism with protest, upheaval and riot. In an age of intersectionality and rebellion, it is easy to dismiss the foundation upon which the …
Hi everyone! Here is our first content call of 2022/23! The theme of this content call is “Renaissance” and we are super excited to share with you some new columns that the online team have been working on.
Email us on [email protected] if you have any questions or reach out to Ana (oa315), Luiza (lm770) or Esther (elh241).
Happy writing! 💗
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WAHo7qvNj9SnOY8FwofzR0-LU2Ghogo4UvDl74EzIkQ/edit
"Sciamma writes physical male presence almost entirely out and creates an environment in which a sudden intrusion of a man towards the end of the film feels like just that — unwelcome, shocking, disconcerting."
It seems only right that RAZZ President, Caitlin Barr rounds out this years RAZZ Film Festival. In the final article, Caitlin gives her thoughts on Portrait of a Lady on Fire.
The Bechdel Test, named after its creator Alison Bechdel, aims to measure female representation in film via three criteria: the film must have two named female characters (1), who have a conversati…
"Often regarded as a film about men, for men, it is perhaps shocking to remember that American Psycho was directed by a woman. "
RAZZ's Film Festival continues with our very own Deputy Print Editor, Daniella Clarke exploring the controversy and fan culture surrounding the classic film, American Psycho. What does she discover?
Adapted from the controversial novel by Bret Easton Ellis, American Psycho follows the story of Patrick Bateman, an attractive young businessman who also happens to be a psychopath. While trying to…
Erin Zammitt, RAZZ's Print Copy Editor, discusses how Sleepless in Seattle both breaks and adheres to trends within the Rom-Com genre. How does Nora Ephron make this happen?
If you were asked to name an iconic romantic comedy, it wouldn’t be a surprise if your answer was one of Nora Ephron’s offerings. The late writer and director is synonymous with the genre and, acco…
"Complicated relationships are at the heart of Shiva Baby, and there is arguably no relationship more complex in a young woman’s life than the mother-daughter dynamic."
RAZZ's Creative Director, Francesca Sylph discusses the mother-daughter relationship in Shiva Baby.
CONTENT WARNINGS: DISORDERED EATING, BIPHOBIA A bisexual sugar baby, her daddy, and a M**F Quinn Fabray walk into a shiva (the Jewish gathering during a time of mourning). That’s the premise of Emm…
"Dash’s film is not only culturally important as a ‘first’, or aesthetically captivating but it is also significant historically. This film is about the preservation and legacy of a culture that history neglects."
After a short break for graduation, RAZZ Film Fest is back with Chloe Jarrett Bell giving an account of Julie Dash's Daughters of the Dust.
“Some of the slaves taken to America must have known creole English before they left Africa, and on the plantations their speech seems to have served as a model for the other slaves. Many linguists…
"the narrative of self-named ‘Bella Cherry’ in Nina Thyberg’s cinematic debut Pleasure, attempts to ride the bodily-fluid wave of sexual prowess towards what culminates as an unshifting male-curated sense of power"
Mia Roe takes a look at the need for a feminist revolution within the Adult Industry in Ninja Thyberg's debut film.
Without the birth of modernised, progressive adult sites that exercise full commitment to consent, universal pleasure and boundaries, the entity that is the current male-centred mainstream pornogra…
"Chadha deals with a powerful tale of hybrid identity, generational conflict and the unadulterated feeling of true belonging."
Maya Fernandes discusses the celebration of ethnic diversity in the classic British rom-com "Bend it like Beckham".
It is no revolutionary statement to suggest that the teenage rom coms of the early 2000s are reminisced upon with a bubble of luminescent nostalgia. The likes of How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days&…
"Fennell’s directorial debut is funny yet scary, clever yet bonkers and I was left feeling slightly shocked. I’ve been thinking about it ever since."
On the third day of the RAZZ Film Fest, Maggie John provides her thoughts on Emerald Fennell's Promising Young Woman, a film that debuted at Sundance Film Festival in 2020.
https://razzmag.co.uk/2022/07/06/disrupting-the-nice-guy-in-emerald-fennells-promising-young-woman-2020/
*film and article contains references to sexual assault* I’ve gone back and forth, undecided about how to start this article. Did I enjoy Promising Young Woman? Yes. Did I think it was one of the c…
"Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Little Women speaks of independence and self assertion to a 21st century audience."
Lisa Greghi discusses Greta Gerwig's adaptation of Louise May Alcott's Little Women as part of RAZZ's Film Fest.
https://razzmag.co.uk/2022/07/05/little-women-2019-ludwigs-representation-of-female-ambition/
Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Little Women speaks of independence and self assertion to a 21st century audience. The classic became popular thanks to its pastoral themes and its heartwarming portray…
"Secrets. Ignorance. Betrayal. DC’s Wonder Woman (2017), directed by Patty Jenkins, is a story of Diana, a warrior princess who leaves her home to fight in a battle that leads to her discovering her true heritage and identity."
In the first post of the 2022 RAZZ Film Festival, Rachel McEwan discusses Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman and how she presents the themes of truth and identity within the film.
https://razzmag.co.uk/2022/07/04/wonder-woman-2017-a-battle-of-truth/
*contains spoilers* Secrets. Ignorance. Betrayal. DC’s Wonder Woman (2017), directed by Patty Jenkins, is a story of Diana, a warrior princess who leaves her home to fight in a battle that leads to…
"While it is undeniably great that these companies show their support for the LGBTQIA community and it has major benefits such as promoting the normalcy of q***r people which can be so reassuring for young people to see, some companies hide their homophobic and transphobic activities behind their rainbow coloured products."
As June draws to a close, Rachel McEwan discusses why Pride Month can create a damaging rhetoric in which inclusivity is championed but for one month only. Should companies be doing more to celebrate pride all year around?
https://razzmag.co.uk/2022/07/01/pride-is-not-just-a-month/
Each year, throughout the month of June everywhere you look you can see rainbows ranging from display stands, changed brand logos to actual pride products for sale, yet how much of a difference is …
Chloé Jarrett-Bell shares her poem titled 'I think I know now'.
https://razzmag.co.uk/2022/06/30/creative-corner-i-think-i-know-now/
I think I know now. I can never stop. I can never stop clasping at dreams given in sweat-filled sleep (glimpses of this body’s legacy). I am a mosaic of mothers, don’t you see? It…
"Luster is beautifully written, characterised by raw, intrusive observations and a particularly gripping opening chapter, which introduces us to the character of Edie, a young black girl living in modern day New York."
Sophy Cullington shares her thoughts on Raven Leilani's novel Luster, comparing it to the likes of Sally Rooney and Ottessa Mosfegh.
https://razzmag.co.uk/2022/06/29/reading-corner-luster-by-raven-leilani/
I first came across Luster via Zadie Smith’s recommendation, who called Raven Leilani’s writing “exacting, hilarious and deadly”. I couldn’t agree more with this description. Luster is beautifully …
Amber Hogan discusses the defamation trial that everyone has been talking about: Depp vs Heard. However, the trial has also had big implications for domestic abuse victims and charities.
https://razzmag.co.uk/2022/06/27/depp-v-heard-what-does-it-mean-for-domestic-abuse-victims/
Reacting to or discussing the Depp V Heard trial and outcome almost certainly meant you had to pick a side. If you didn’t or still haven’t, it’s likely to be perceived as complacency or a lack of c…
"If you haven’t seen Lovestruck High yet, you’re in for a treat."
Bridie Adams reviews Amazon's latest foray into the reality tv show world, Lovestruck High. With steep competition from the likes of Love Island, will this new show be a success?
https://razzmag.co.uk/2022/06/15/review-lovestruck-high/
If you haven’t seen Lovestruck High yet, you’re in for a treat. Fifteen UK singles are taken back to high school where they date their classmates and make new friends. However, they’re not signing …
"We watch Love Island in the same way we eat a whole tub of Ben and Jerry’s – we know it isn’t particularly nutritious or edifying, but we consume it anyway because it’s fun."
Caitlin Barr discusses Love Island's change from supporting fast fashion brand Pretty Little Thing, instead highlighting a more sustainable outfit choice with EBay.
https://razzmag.co.uk/2022/06/22/love-island-champions-a-sustainable-future/
It’s June, which means that most of us have the familiar jingle of the Love Island theme tune playing on a loop in our heads. Toned bodies, exclamations of ‘got a text!’ and awkward firepit convos …
"The Last Words by Theatre With Teeth, Exeter’s own student-led drama company, is a gritty murder mystery with a twist" - Alanah Swift reviews the production by Exeter's student drama company.
https://razzmag.co.uk/2022/06/07/review-the-last-word
The Last Words by Theatre With Teeth, Exeter’s own student-led drama company, is a gritty murder mystery with a twist. The story takes place in the midst of a murder investigation, but one in which…
"There are only two cities in Devon: Exeter and Plymouth. Plymouth is early accessible and full of history and stories to uncover so, why haven’t you visited yet?"
Amie Greenhalgh takes you through all of the must-see sights in Plymouth. How do you get there? Where are the best places to visit?
There are only two cities in Devon: Exeter and Plymouth. Plymouth is early accessible and full of history and stories to uncover so, why haven’t you visited yet? Throughout my time at univers…
"The business said a number of factors were behind this, including rising prices, the conflict in Ukraine, and ferocious rivalry with other streaming services – so let’s break it down."
Bridie Adams unpicks why Netflix is seeing drops in regular subscribers for the first time since 2011. Is the subscription service finally losing its streaming crown?
Netflix lost 200,000 subscribers in the first 2022 quarter as it failed to meet its early prediction of adding 2.5 million subscribers to its customer base. Even worse, more people are forecast to …
"I read those books when I was younger, and I loved them. I loved the characters, and I loved the way I imagined them based on the author’s guidance. However, despite the depictions of a blonde haired Annabeth, I love the casting of Leah Jeffries."
Chloe Jarrett Bell discusses the controversy surrounding the casting of Leah Jeffries as Annabeth in the Disney+ adaptation of the Percy Jackson series.
Disney recently began announcing the casting for their upcoming Percy Jackson adaptation, based on the books of the same name by Rick Riordan. However, the casting of Annabeth Chase was met with mu…
"It got me thinking, to what extent are these anxieties my own insecurities or an internalized response to an ever-pressuring social standard of finding perfection for summer? For example: “the summer bod”."
Madeline Cooper explores the pressures placed on people in society to get in shape for the summer. Why do we put so much pressure on a season just because the weather is nice?
There is one thing that can certainly determine the start of summer: a beach day. I went to the beach for what felt like the first time in forever this week after finishing my first-year exams, and…
"There is a difference in TALKING about women’s body parts and SEXUALISING women’s body parts and Adidas’ campaign is certainly not doing the latter."
Ellen Hodges discusses why ADIDAS's latest sports bra campaign was met with controversy and complaints for featuring women's bodies. Should advertisements such as this be banned?
In February, Adidas launched their campaign promoting 43 different sizes of sports bras. The campaign was centred on breast diversity and included a collage of breasts of all shapes and sizes from …
Eirwen Abberley Watton reviews Exeter University Shakespeare Company’s latest production, Julius Caesar. Catch it at The Hall, tonight and tomorrow!
https://razzmag.co.uk/2022/05/24/performance-review-exeter-shakespeare-companys-julius-caesar/
Sweeping me in from cobbled streets in an area of Exeter that I’d never set foot before, The Hall was the perfect venue in which to be hurtled along with the tide of political thrill and plotting. …
Erin Zammitt reviews the latest Sally Rooney adaptation, Conversations with Friends. Did it live up to the success of Normal People?
** contains mild spoilers for the series ** Sally Rooney’s 2017 debut Conversations with Friends is a book I read a couple of years ago and loved – and when I reread it before watching th…
"Dreamsnake: an under-appreciated novel for the ages and quite possibly my new favourite book. As far as I’m concerned, its main flaw is the lack of a sequel."
M Shelton reviews Dreamsnake by Vonda McIntyre, a 1970's feminist science fiction novel.
https://razzmag.co.uk/2022/05/20/reading-corner-dreamsnake-by-vonda-mcintyre/
In the latest Discover Devon post, Amie Greenhalgh relates her recent trip to Exmoor National Park. With most people opting to visit the closer Dartmoor, what does Exmoor have to offer?
https://razzmag.co.uk/2022/05/18/discover-devon-exmoor-national-park/
Daniella Clarke reviews Robert Eggers' latest film, The Northman.
https://razzmag.co.uk/2022/05/17/review-the-northman-2022/
"Exeter university, or Paris fashion week? Everyday is a runway on campus. So what will the trends of the third term, or more importantly, the summer, be this season?" - Elinor Wallis gives her take on this term's top fashion trends.
https://razzmag.co.uk/2022/05/16/the-summer-2022-trends/
Exeter
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when RAZZ Magazine posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Send a message to RAZZ Magazine:
You can read all of the archived magazines at https://issuu.com/razzmag or on the "read razz" page on our blog: https://razzmag.com/read-razz/2018/19
Committee: Print Editor and President: Charlotte Forrester Online Editor and President: Katrina Bennett Deputy Print Editor: Jaimie Hampton Deputy Online Editor: Naomi Hart & Holly McSweeney Creative Director: Cameron Townsley Copy Editor: Sophie Chapman & Katie Burdon Outreach Officer: Ellie Foulds Publicity Officer: Emma Ingledew Social Secretary: Eva Hanly Treasurer: Sara Abdulnabi
Grow - Relentlessly Positive News
South Street
