The Good, the Bad and the Bloody

November 22, 2018 Anonymous Author

Every armchair expert on economics or the Middle East can be counted on to shout “it’s the oil!” when discussing why Saudi Arabia is what it is and does what it does. And when one looks at the headline figures, it is hard to argue otherwise: the Kingdom is the world’s largest oil exporter, has the second-largest reserves and is the de facto head of OPEC, a cartel of oil exporting countries. It is also the quintessential rags-to-riches oil state, defined by irresponsible spending, peculiar national priorities (what is the point of building a 1 km high tower?) and a bloated bureaucracy. Oil has long been the indicator Saudi Arabia’s foreign and domestic policy, but times might be changing.

THE VINYL CRAZE: Retromania of Our Age

November 11, 2018 Joanna Zienkiewicz

Not so long ago, when visiting my friend in her room, I noticed an old vinyl record of The Beatles on the shelf. Intrigued, as it certainly wasn’t there before, I soon learnt that she has bought it in a second-hand shop for quite a low price, which certainly would not be surprising–if it was not for the fact that she does not have a gramophone, nor does she intend to buy one.

The Attraction of the Unattractive: On Monsters, Men, and the Monstrous in Men

October 31, 2018 Dora Vrhoci

October is the month of monsters. Each year around the time of Halloween we are practically bombed with horror films containing various magical creatures, beings, and monsters. Vampires lurking around the dark alleys of the city streets, skeletons waltzing to the tunes of Camille Saint-Saëns’s Danse Macabre, and zombies craving for a bite of human flesh, are just some examples of elements popularly associated with the monstrous aesthetics of Halloween, and early November.

Nostalgia on Television: Looking Back to Go Forward

October 25, 2018 Eliza Actina

As days grow shorter, leaves change colour and putting on a scarf becomes a requirement before facing the chilly autumn winds, you might find yourself reminiscing about the summer. Longing to return to the bright moments of your sunlit memories, perhaps you listen to the summer’s greatest hits on Spotify or watch summery feel-good movies like Mamma Mia! and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. These feelings and actions are fuelled by a sentiment known as nostalgia, and its connection to the media we consume is more present in our everyday lives than we are often aware of.

Trailer Music–The First Music Impression: Between Art And Commerce (Part 2)

October 11, 2018 Joanna Zienkiewicz

It is known how to make a good trailer tune; it is also known that it is not a simple challenge. From the beginning of trailer-making, the practice of reusing music used for other trailers has flourished–after all, once an appropriate sound is found, it is tempting to use its qualities and maybe even the popularity it acquired through the movie that used it before. Classical music such as Carmina Burana or Lux Aeterna has been overused to the point it is hardly ever brought up anymore; so did pop songs like Walkin’ on Sunshine.

From Reality to Fiction; From Fiction to Reality: The Peculiar Relationship Between Fictional Characters and Readers

October 4, 2018 Dora Vrhoci

It is that time of the year again. Summer is coming to a close, and orange-tinted leaves are signalling that autumn is knocking at the door. The weather is gradually becoming frisky, and a new academic year has already begun in schools and universities around the globe.

It is also a time of the year when the halls of Hogwarts are once again filled with young witches and wizards eager to commence a new year at the famous British school of witchcraft and wizardry.

Trailer Music–The First Music Impression: Between Art and Commerce (Part 1)

September 24, 2018 Joanna Zienkiewicz

First impressions are crucial. Whenever a movie is to be released, trailers are needed to promote it at least 6 months in advance. Most of the time, this moment is what determines whether the movie becomes a hit or a smash, whether the audience will be swept away by the promised greatness, fun or fear (depending on the movie genre) or will be disappointed already by the sneak peek.

Festivals, Amusement Parks, Graveyards: The Uncanny Nature of our Summer Leisure

August 21, 2018 Dora Vrhoci

A few days ago, I was in the midst of sipping a cup of freshly made Earl Grey tea at our balcony in my hometown in Croatia, when the relaxing atmosphere of the summer morn’ suddenly became disturbed by the sound of a peculiar little car announcing that the Classical Circus Berlin has just made its arrival in the city.

Sounds of the Summer

August 15, 2018 Joanna Zienkiewicz

Above all other seasons, summer notoriously produces dozens of songs released in its name. During the warm months, whether on holiday, or just consuming various media at home, it’s impossible to avoid hearing this year’s “summer hit” or multiple contenders for the title.