Articles
we ‘re all dying, why don’t you care?
Recent studies showed that young adults on average spend £602 yearly buying fast fashion, despite being the most aware of the ongoing climate crisis. From avoiding sustainable habits to ignoring eco-friendly practices, we’ve become experts in procrastination. Fighting climate change feels like a New Year’s resolution we’re too lazy to keep, no matter how bad the consequences get. With all the technology and knowledge at our fingertips, it feels like we should be doing more, but instead, we prioritise cheap prices over eco-friendly practices.
A pressing issue facing our generation is the common mindset of "I don’t care, I’m just one person." Many young adults feel like recycling a plastic bottle won’t have any real effect on climate change. However, they overlook the fact that every small effort adds up to create a significant impact. This attitude, in many cases, seems to stem from ignorance.
The White Lies Report, commissioned by the electrical retailer AO.com, showed that people aged 18-24 are the least likely to recycle easily recyclable items like cans, bottles, plastics, and paper. Another study done by Sheffield Hallam University showed that 62% of people aged 18-24 shop fast-fashion monthly. The research also found that this age group spends, on average £602 yearly buying fast fashion.
KU fashion graduate Florence Mehdi emphasised how sustainable fashion was part of the syllabus when she was a student at KU. She said: “Most people in my class ended up creating an entire collection by the end of the course. They understand the importance of sustainable fashion and know how to sew and make clothes, so avoiding fast fashion should be a no-brainer. But somehow they still ordered clothes from Asos every week.”
Given that our generation is well aware of the environmental damage that is being caused, one would expect taking care of the environment to be on people's minds. We frequently discuss the looming threat of climate change and its impact on our future, yet, for many, even taking small steps seems like a burden. A survey conducted by The Lancet showed that 59% of young adults (aged 16-25) were very or extremely worried about climate change. So the issue is not lack of knowledge; we’re quite frankly just too lazy.
However, there is still hope. KU student Marcia Denny is deeply passionate about both recycling and second-hand clothing. She said: "I believe the recycling of second hand clothes is hugely beneficial to the environment as instead of buying straight from mass produced outlets where the quality and the labour behind the manufacturing of it is actually less than reused good quality items of clothing giving the environment less emissions and people new fashion inspiration.”
Denny actively strives to live more sustainably as she’s aware of the current direction of the climate and is committed to getting the environment back on track through sustainable actions.
Denny added that living sustainably doesn’t have to be dull or time-consuming. She also pointed out that thrifting can be fun as you can find some unique fashion pieces: “seeing my favourite influencers and friends at art school inspires me to buy second-hand clothes along with the added bonus of the cheaper prices. It’s fun rummaging through thousands of t-shirts and shirts and jumpers to find even one special piece that really calls out to you that you want to give a second life to.”
However, motivation often wanes when it seems like we are doing more than any other group in society, only to be blamed for the worsening climate crisis. Many young adults feel the weight of responsibility when it comes to shifting global trends, especially given the state of the world today. It raises the question: Should the blame really fall on us, or should it be directed at the big corporations? These corporations are responsible for producing almost everything we buy, use, and throw away, and they play a massive role in increasing climate change. It's clear that they should bear their fair share of the responsibility for the environmental damage they cause. In the summer of 2021, Greenpeace revealed that UK financial firms contribute more CO2 emissions than many entire countries. Yet, the responsibility to steer the world back on course still feels like it falls on our shoulders.
youth disconnected from democracy
In an era when political polarisation dominates news headlines, you would think that young adults would be eager to have a say in what’s happening in the world around them. Well, think again. More and more students are choosing to tune out of political discourse, rather than tune in. A sense of powerlessness and lack of interest seem to be the common denominators and an overwhelming feeling that “nothing changes” seems to outweigh the importance of trying to improve things.
How else can we explain the level of student apathy about the news that Kingston will not take part in UK local elections in May due to major reorganisation of local government. While a few students express dissatisfaction with having to wait another year for their voice to be heard, many students don’t seem to care.
KU Student Deqa Osman’s view seems fairly typical. She said: “I don’t vote, I don’t think elections really affect my life. Most things feel decided at a higher level and I don’t notice much difference no matter who wins. The candidates all seem the same and out of touch. They say what people want to hear but nothing actually improves.”
A survey conducted by the charity UK Youth recently revealed that only 1 in 10 young people believe politicians consider the needs of young people when making decisions. For students to care, students need to be affected. And while offshore trusts, inheritance tax, and investments to fix a million potholes annually may not be our main priorities, affordable housing certainly is.
KU sports science student, Sarah Guthrie agrees. She says it’s impossible to find housing near the university because of rent increases.
“I don’t think the elections have an impact on my daily life.” She added: “These days all parties seem to be doing the same thing, and never doing anything to help my generation. But I think in Kingston affordable housing has become an issue that needs to be addressed.”
Another KU student, who prefers to remain anonymous also identifies housing as the main student issue. “As someone from a low-income family who can barely afford rent, I believe housing should be on the agenda for any election,” she said “I don’t have the option to ask my parents for help, and I’m already working two jobs just to be able to afford rent”
“I think it’s fair to say that students aren't particularly interested in politics. However, no one seems to understand why. I feel like politicians don’t care about young people.”
Maybe so-called student apathy finds its roots in the ignorance of politicians oblivious to the issues that actually matter to students. The problem does not lie with students' lack of engagement but rather with ignorant politicians. Young adults are often the most impressionable group in society. If you give students a reason to care, they'll take to the streets, fighting for what they believe matters.
American Students Speak Out
As the dust settles after the 2024 U.S. presidential election, the world is looking on with both anticipation and uncertainty. For American international students studying in the UK, the election's outcome carries significant weight for the political landscape back home.
The U.S. government has made it clear that American students will continue to receive funding for studying abroad, however, there is still anxiety about how changing policies might affect their future. Many international students are worried about the status of their student visas, future immigration policies, and returning home under new regulations.
Kingston University student, Meghan Harris, expressed frustration over the outcome of the election. She said: “I don't even want to go back after this election, as a woman I would rather stay somewhere else where my rights won't be taken away over time and where the country doesn't hate females in general.”
Harris added that the outcome of the election did not come as a surprise to her, although she was both disappointed and upset with the result, she said: “I had hope that people would have educated themselves about Trump after his last served term as president, but I am not surprised that they didn't and chose to be wilfully ignorant.”
Every fourth year the U.S. candidates battle for political power whilst the world watches, but somehow the results of this year’s election felt different, leaving young women with an unsettling feeling about new policies such as the abolishment of Roe V Wade.
Harris added that the election result is an embarrassment to her and that she thinks the outcome will reinforce negative stereotypes about Americans, she said: “As an American student living in the UK there are already connotations attached to being American. With the new election, it makes me feel like they are solidifying their previous thoughts of the 'dumb Americans', which makes me understand the previous stereotypes due to Trump’s win.”
For some, the republican victory may come as a surprise, however, a Kingston University student wanting to remain anonymous, said: “I am frankly astonished that people are surprised. Kamala is not the female champion we wanted, but a pawn of the party.”
They added: “She had an opportunity to reach across the aisle and strongly appeal to the shared sentiment of desiring female leadership, but instead, she proposed hokum economic sanctions which could have led to serious food supply issues.”
But what does Trump’s victory mean for Americans? Well, the list of promises is long. Trump has promised mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, in fact the largest in U.S. history, alongside wanting to complete the U.S.-Mexico border. He also aims to tackle inflation, implement tax cuts and new tariffs on foreign goods, end the war in Ukraine, and cut climate regulations.
As political divisions in the United States continue to deepen, many students find themselves caught between opposing ideologies. Kingston University student reflecting on the current state of U.S politics expressed a belief that the media’s approach toward Republicans is often unnecessarily harsh, they said: “Despite what the media would have you believe, more than half of America is not stupid or hateful for voting for Trump, they simply feel he represents them. Whether or not this will prove true, we will all have to see.”
Many American students are primarily concerned about the political state back home, however, Kingston University Student, Esmee Leah Oani, raised concerns about how Trump’s re-election might open up to stricter immigration policies which could affect her ability to travel, study and work abroad.
She said: “Changes in education funding could impact the availability of scholarships and financial aid, making higher education less accessible. Shifts in international relations might alter how the U.S. is perceived globally, potentially influencing job prospects specifically as some may have preconceived notions of those from the US, especially of me as I am from Texas.”
It is apparent that students are navigating the U.S. election with a mix of scepticism and hope. Their views and opinions reflect a generation increasingly engaged in politics as they continue to raise their voice and advocate for change.
Kingston University student is looking at the election with hope for the future, as she said: “[Trump’s victory] will mean a stronger military and better economic outcomes for the country.”
However, Oani and Harris are more sceptical about the election’s outcome, as Harris said: “I think it means the beginning of the end, it's going to be the end of freedom of expression, freedom of speech, and the right of life. People won't be free to be who they are.”
‘Too big for the catwalk’ the plus size models protesting at lfw
In a world where beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, the fashion industry still struggles to embrace plus-size models. Fueled by passion and determination, Sugapuff demands change and showcases that diverse bodies deserve a spotlight. You might have seen him on billboards across the UK in dazzling EE ads or posing alongside footballer Leah Williamson in a sleek Aston Martin campaign. However, the pinnacle of his campaign came about earlier this year when he carried out a protest at London Fashion Week demanding change in the fashion industry.
Hammam, known as Sugapuff, describes himself as a confident and friendly person. He always aims to put a smile on people’s faces and says he is able to find people’s spark just by looking at them. Hammam comes from a British Bengali family and decided early in his career that a catchy name is needed for people to remember him. He proudly explains how ‘Sugapuff’ was born; “One day I looked myself in the mirror and I asked myself ‘Who am I?’, and then I thought ‘I’m puff on the outside and sweet on the inside’ and that how Sugapuff was born.”
As bubbly and happy as he seems he emphasises how life has not always been easy. Sugapuff gets emotional diving into his life before fame, he said: “I have been through loads of hardships. Being a fat South Asian man attending glamorous events is not as luxurious as it sounds. People often think I am the taxi driver or the security guard.” He added that at the start of his career fashionable plus-size clothes were not widely available forcing him to dress in a less fashionable way which affected his self-confidence.
According to Vogue Business and DAZED, 0.8% of the looks presented at the Vogue Runway AW24 were plus-size and less than 1% of models at SS24 were plus-size. Regarding the changing societal body image making the plus-size model gain popularity statistics show that the amount of plus-size models is decreasing. This became hugely visible to Sugapuff when he got invited to this year’s London Fashion Week. He, alongside other models, carried out a protest shedding light on the lack of representation of plus-size models. When asked about his reason for protesting, Sugapuff said: “It was really important for me to do it because I felt like I had to make a stand for people like myself who are big and plus-size. I'm using my voice for anyone who has gone through pain and hurt.”
Sugapuff emphasizes how being a male plus-size model differs from being a female model. He said: “For plus-sized women you will find anything and everything but men’s plus-size is not there yet.” He went on to say that the problem isn’t that the male plus-size community is unwelcoming; rather, there simply isn't a community available to welcome anyone in. This is something Sugapuff aims to change.
When asked about goals for the future, he humbly replied: “I just want to be happy. If I see something special in someone, I tell them because life is too short, and people need to know their sparks. I will keep doing that. I will keep bringing happiness to people’s lives.” With amusement, he finishes off by saying: “And I assure you I will be famous one day.”
Sexual assault rife on university campuses
40% of Kingston University students have been victims of physical sexual assault whilst at the premises of Kingston University, according to a River survey of over 60 students.
The survey is based on the Metropolitans Police’s definition of sexual assault, which is: “Sexual or indecent assault is an act of physical, psychological and emotional violation in the form of a sexual act, inflicted on someone without their consent. It can involve forcing or manipulating someone to witness or participate in any sexual acts.”
A KU student said: “I was sexually assaulted by another [Kingston University] student. I think it will affect me for the rest of my life. I don’t go out anymore, I think if this can happen at university, it can happen anywhere.”
The River team acknowledges that victims of sexual assault may be more inclined to partake in this survey, however, the responses to The River’s survey align with broader trends.
National Students Stats showed a somewhat similar finding to our survey, their survey showed that nearly one in three students in England have experienced an incident of sexual assault that occurred in a university setting.
There has been an increase of nearly 25% in sexual assaults happening in England since 2020, a survey done by the Office for National Statistics showed.
In addition, there has been an increase of nearly 50% in incident exposure or unwanted sexual touching, the same survey showed.
According to NHS, urgent help and support after experiencing sexual assault is vital, however, Kingston University students are not pleased with the university’s support services.
A KU student said: “I tried communicating with the university in regard to the incident and they never emailed me back.”
“I reported the assault to the university but I had to wait 10 months to even get a first session of counselling,” another KU student said.
Research conducted by The National Institute for Health and Care Research showed that 72% of victims suffer from post-traumatic stress symptoms after experiencing sexual assault.
NIHR conducted interviews as part of their research, in an interview, one victim said: “[After the incident took place] I’d literally become violent with rage and anger and I remember kicking someone in their head, I wasn’t a violent person, it’s just the minute someone said the word rape.”
In the same interview, another victim said: “I was just really down, really, really down. At the time, I didn’t have anything that I enjoyed.”
Common responses to sexual assault include depression, anxiety and self-harm urges, feelings of vulnerability and loss of control are also common by victims of sexual assault.
One student being victim of physical sexual assault by another KU student off-site said: “[the incident] took over my life. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I had nightmares about it for months.”
“It mostly affected my attendance and my grades. I still saw my friends outside of uni but I couldn’t make myself go in. I was so afraid of seeing the person who did this to me,” they added.
Half of the students who have experienced sexual assault, either verbally or physically, whilst being a student at Kingston University reported the incident to the university, however, 50% of those reporting the incident found the support either unhelpful or less helpful.
A KU student said: “I started blaming myself for what happened, thinking that because it happened to me I must have done something to deserve it. But now I know that’s not true and I’m proud of how I’ve been working on my self-esteem.”
Right to reply
The River recognises that this is a sensitive topic, and we encourage anyone who has experienced something similar to reach out for support, either through the university’s services or NHS. Please do not hesitate to contact the university. While we do not report on resolved cases, we want to reassure you that most individuals do receive the support they need. Remember, it is never your fault.
Students slam tuition fee hike
The Labour Party has announced plans to hike university tuition fees to £9,535 despite a previous pledge to scrap them, causing outrage amongst students in the capital.
The tuition fee for English students was capped at £9,250 per year, however, the fee will now increase by £285 - the first rise to the in eight years.
Kingston University has confirmed that the increase will affect both new and returning student from the academic year 2025/2026. Some universities have contracts in place with students that mean the rise will not apply to existing students but this in not the case for KU.
Kingston University alumni, Chiara Arduino, said: “I think [the increase] is mainly unfair for those who want to go to university and get a degree but are not able to afford it. I feel like it is already expensive as it is and having to pay for accommodation as well just adds more struggle for students, especially those studying in London.”
It has now never been more expensive to attend university in the UK.
A Kingston University spokesperson said: “Following the Government’s announcement that the cap on undergraduate tuition fees is set to rise from August 2025, the University anticipates charging the full amount of £9,535 for standard full-time courses being completed by new and returning Home (UK) students for the 2025/26 academic year.
“Implementation of this increase will be subject to passage of the relevant legislation through Parliament. We also anticipate that student loan support will increase in line with the increase in tuition fees. We will also be adhering to the changes announced for foundation years.”
The UK’s education system has long been reliant on a combination of public funding and student fees.
However, the government has gradually reduced its contribution to universities over the past years, leaving many universities to depend heavily on tuition fees.
Pheobe Munro, Nottingham University 2023 alumni, said: “I would not apply to university now due to the increase in tuition fee. The tuition and debt are too extreme for what you get in return.”
Although Labour leader, Keir Starmer, made promises to abolish tuition fees four years ago he said: “Since then [2020], there has been huge damage to the economy and as we have got towards the election we have had to make difficult choices.”
Munro disagrees with Starmer’s proposal to increase fees and believes it will cause the party to lose a significant number of voters, particularly students. She said: “Students especially have been effected by the cost of living and rising rent prices, with no increase in maintenance loans, making it extremely difficult for students already without this £250 increase.”
Tuition fees has been a contested issue for decades since they were introduced in 1998 by Tony Blair’s Labour government.
Initially, UK students had to pay up to £1,000 a year for tuition. University fees of £3,000 were introduced by the Labour government in 2006, the coalition government then increased it to £9,000 in 2012.
When talking about how this will affect students, Monro said: “I think the people this is affecting are people who have been hit the hardest by a lot of government policies that have come into place in the last 10 years.”
The government has justified the increase, saying it needs to change in line with inflation, primarily to help the financial stability of the university sector.
20-day grading promise is broken for more than half of Ku students
Kingston University students are dissatisfied with marking speed as 58% of KU students do not receive their mark back within the 20-day grading period.
In most instances students usually get a reason for the delayed feedback, however, according to some students they receive their mark back long after the due date without any explanation.
A KU student said: “It’s a systemic issue, I feel like I'm constantly being left on a cliffhanger. I’ve had four submissions due this far and twice I’ve received my mark overdue with no explanation.”
Journalism lecturer, Emma Day, said she feels awful students don’t get their mark back during the 20-working day promise, “but those of us marking are also struggling”.
Columbia Center for Teaching and Learning states that getting frequent feedback is vital for students to stay motivated, alongside giving the student the opportunity to grow and improve in time for the next submission.
Day echoed this: “It’s in our best interest to give students proper feedback and give students the feedback they’re entitled to, however, I find the policy very restrictive and very unfairly weighted for fractional staff. I’m not given much time per student to mark, last term I marked half a million words in 6 weeks.”
Kingston University has an extended period of marking compared to many other UK universities, including Reading, Stirling, and Sussex, which all aim to return coursework, in-class tests, and exams within 15 working days.
KU students believe the marking turnaround is unfair, as it seems to hold them to a different standard compared to lecturers, one student said "It feels like a double standard. If I don't submit my work on time, my mark would be capped, but lecturers take as much time as they need with their marking."
Day emphasised that lecturers don’t want to let students down, “lecturers feel terrible that that’s their experience, however, the policy is very difficult. It’s a one-size fits all policy. The marking policy doesn’t take into consideration that staff doesn’t work Monday-Friday. I have to adhere to the policy although I only work 2 days a week.”
Another KU student said that third year is already very stressful due to the heavy workload and suggested that assignment deadlines should align with the time given for marking, “our assignments already feel incredibly rushed and if I have to wait a month to get my assignments back then I think we should have more time to do them.”
A Kingston University spokesperson said: “We recognise how important feedback is in helping students improve future work and develop their knowledge and learning and aim to always return work to students within the 20 working-day deadline.
“In the most recent National Student Survey more than 82 per cent of students responded positively around timely assessment feedback, an increase of 2 per cent from the previous year.
“We are always striving to improve this figure. We would encourage students to contact their course leader or Head of Department if the deadline is not met and they have not been informed about the reason for this. There is also the option to report late feedback using the KU app by clicking on the ‘tell us’ tile.”
Record-breaking turnout at Kingston Ladies tryout
Kingston Ladies had their annual football tryout last month with a turnout of 40 players, the biggest turnout in the university's history.
Kingston University Ladies Football Club used to be a team consisting of 16 passionate girls but now has an impressive amount of 56 players.
When asked about the turnout Chiara Arduino, team president, said: “It was really inspiring and emotional for me because so many women were interested, so many of them wanted to learn or continue playing and I was really happy to see there are more women out there like me who are passionate about football.”
With the effects of the pandemic and only 15 sign-ups last year, the team has been struggling with creating a solid squad.
This year’s World Cup showcased the power of women’s football and forced people to look at women’s football in a different way, which the team president thinks is the main reason for the turnout this year.
Arduino said: “This year's turnout was definitely a shock to us all compared to the last two years with the women’s World Cup having a massive impact for sure. Most girls were inspired and willing to try out after watching the World Cup.”
Arduino adds: “I think seeing women play can be really inspiring and it made these girls want to try as well. Seeing more women in this sport encourages young girls to try out.”
With Kingston Ladies previously having to cancel matches due to not having enough players, this season is off to a good start.
Abigail Woollvin, team captain, said: “I think it’s amazing, I feel we’re really now starting to grow together as a club. This year was the biggest turnout I’d seen in my three years studying at Kingston. In my first year there were not many of us at all and in some games it was hard to play with not enough players. But I’m so happy this season we’re able to have a big team.”
Kingston Ladies are playing in division 3B but are hoping to secure a league win and climb up to division 3A next season.
This year Kingston Ladies faces university teams such as UCL Women’s, St Mary’s Women’s, Queen Mary Women’s, LSE Women’s and King’s College.
With finishing second in the league last year the girls are hoping to win this year’s league title.
When asked about their next step team captain Woollvin said: “As a team we are all so motivated to bring the cup home this season. With such a strong squad I truly believe this can happen.”
Team president Arduino also has some goals for the upcoming season, she said: “I think the next step is to keep encouraging women to join. Keep training, keep up the energy, and keep people interested and passionate about the sport. And obviously winning the league.”
The Man Behind the Magic
Quentin Tarantino is currently on press tour for his new book, Cinema Speculation. He made a quick visit to Jimmy Kimmel Live where the two of them discussed what a perfect movie is. “A perfect movie kind of crosses all aesthetics to one degree or another. It might not be your cup of tea but there’s nothing you can say to bring it down,” Tarantino said. However, many filmmakers will argue that this is easier said than done. This is the story about the Tennessee boy who mastered that exact art. His life before fame, awards and scandals.
Quentin Jerome Tarantino was born on March 27 1963. He was born and raised in Tennessee, US. With a long list of occupations such as screenwriter, actor and author, Tarantino is most known for his cult films. Before his career took off in the 90s, Tarantino had several jobs including working as an usher at an adult movie theatre, as a recruiter in the aerospace industry and in a video store. He already had a big name back then as he was known for his broad film knowledge. In an interview with Film Daily in 2019 Tarantino said: “When people ask me if I went to film school, I tell them ‘No, I went to films.”
Tarantino has always praised the benefit of being self-taught, he dropped out of high school aged 15 and has since then worked. Tarantino did some uncredited work before he released Reservoir Dogs (1992) which is counted as one of his 10 masterpieces. The following years brought two more movies to life; the one and only Pulp Fiction (1994) and Jackie Brown (1997). Six years later Kill Bill Volume 1 (2003) was released, followed by Kill Bill Volume 2 (2004). Death Proof was released in 2007. Two years later Tarantino introduced us to the biggest plot twist in cinematic history with the release of Inglorious Bastards (2009). Followed by Django Unchained (2012), The Hateful Eight (2015), and finally Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019). Despite the difference in plot, the one thing all his movies have in common is the recognition and many awards they have received. The director’s movies are known for their sharp dialogue, neo-noir violence and pop culture references. Tarantino masters the art of making movies that appeal to everyone and are loved by a whole nation.
With no less than seven Oscar nominations, one Oscar, one Golden Bear nominee, nine Bafta nominees, one Bafta, six Critics Choice Awards and four Palme d’Ors Tarantino goes down as one of the most awarded directors in the history of film. Although he has yet to claim a directing Oscar. He has been nominated for both Pulp Fiction, Inglorious Bastards and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood but failed to win each time. With a broad range of films, Tarantino often gets asked what his favourite movie of his own is. During an appearance on The Howard Stern Show, Tarantino admitted that Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is his favourite movie to date which, in fact, the critics agreed with as the movie was nominated for 10 awards at the 2020 Oscars. However, Tarantino hasn’t only been praised for his well-known work. Whatever the merits of Tarantino’s films some argue that it’s about time he gets cancelled. After decades in the industry, Tarantino has a long record of scandals, often surrounding his behaviour towards women.
Since releasing his first film, Tarantino’s star has risen, fallen and risen again. Although his dedication to cinema is exceptional, his behaviour is described differently. Uma Thurman might be attributed for his immediate success and has been described as Tarantino’s muse, by Tarantino himself. Although, the two of them happen to have a fractured relationship after Thurman starred in Kill Bill. Hence why Tarantino never released Volume 3. Although he managed to reconcile their relationship, his behaviour does not seem to change. This can be seen after the release of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) with several controversial cases coming to light. Alongside #MeToo allegations, a history of disturbing behaviour towards women and a controversial interest in violence against women being a common thread in the majority of his films, people ask themselves if this is the end of an era. Which it soon might be as Tarantino famously said he will make 10 movies and then retire. As the Kill Bill movies count as one this might be reality as he only has one spot left. Tarantino has already started teasing his fans with details about his last masterpiece. The details are spare but we know it’s called The Movie Critic and is set to be released in 2025. According to a Deadline report, it’s also been reported that Brad Pitt is starring in Tarantino’s final film. Even though fans want more, Tarantino’s reasoning for retiring is “Due largely to the idea that directors make pretty terrible final films,” he said in an interview with Screen Rant. The director wants to leave behind a strong and tightly curated filmography and added that he doesn’t want to become out of touch.
With decades of working in the field, he is still as relevant as he was in the 90s. His work will go down as a pinnacle in the history of film and will be remembered for years to come. The art of making films so divisive is something Tarantino has mastered for decades. His movies evoke something out of all and we will expect nothing but the same for his final movie. With his urban lifestyle, many scandals and huge impact on pop culture there is no doubt this man will stay relevant for years to come- whether you like it or not.
Unveiling the Legacy: dogme’95
The daring Dogme ́95 movement was introduced to the Danish population in 1998 and hit the rest of the world quickly. The movement was impressive in many ways as it introduced the industry to a new way of approaching filmmaking. It showed that a huge budget is not needed to make a great film. Dogme ‘95 was a new, raw and real way of creating art. Its rejection of the Hollywood shine and polish amazed a nation as the movement chose to depict things as they are instead of how we want to see them. Dogme ́95 was an attempt to stray away from the commercial systems in cinema. Watching a Dogme movie has been described as watching a childhood video on an old video camera, drawing you in and setting the scene in a way no other film technique can do. To really understand the impact of Dogme ‘95 we must look at the landscape of international cinema in the 90’s. Several film movements came to an end with movement leaders such as Federico Fellini (La Dolce Vita), Ingmar Bergman (The Silence), Stanley Kubrick (The Shining) and Francois Truffaut (The Woman Next Door) retiring. The film industry focused on profiting and became more commercial all around the world. The Dogme ‘95 movement wanted to change the course of cinema, and so it did.
The movement could be described as a paradox. Film movements are defined by the subjectivity of their qualities, how they are received by an audience and how filmmakers choose to portray different topics. However, this movement couldn’t be more objective. Sofie Eiding, filmmaker and film enthusiast, said: “The movement aimed to remind people of the essence of film, which is the acting, the storyline and the theme.” She added: “They wanted to move away from typical blockbusters which were made by big productions and special effects”.
To make sure this film technique was executed properly, two of the movement’s main directors made a manifesto. Thomas VinterBerg and Lars von Trier made a list consisting of 10 rules. For a movie to be considered a Dogme ‘95 movie all of the rules needed to be followed. The manifesto, also called “Vow of Chasity” was strict and detailed to make sure the movies really differed from the typical blockbusters. Some directors argue that, compared to any other movement in history, Dogme ‘95 is perhaps the easiest to define, mostly because of the written manifesto. The manifesto forced filmmakers to look at filmmaking differently and gave them a massive creative challenge, which was the point.
Film Student Andrew Tuoriniemi has always been amazed by the movement. Tuoriniemi said this when talking about what makes this movement so special: “What differentiates them from other directors is how is how they are grounded and unromantic in their depictions of the human condition.” He went on to say: “As directors, they tend to stray away from romanticising life with their bleak and emotionally raw directing style.”
The first official Dogme ‘95 film was released in 1998, three years after the movement was introduced to the public. Festen, also known as The Celebration, directed by Thomas Vinterberg, is set in the late 90s when a family celebration is taking place. Throughout the film, dark secrets about a dysfunctional family are revealed by the younger son. The dark comedy-drama touches on issues like child abuse, racism and revenge. The film truly lays out the dilemma it causes when the lines between hate and love become blurred. In an interview with Studiobinder about the process of using Dogme ‘95 when making Festen, Vinterberg said: “[Dogme 95] gave me the courage to be absolutely consequential emotionally when writing this. I thought if I don’t have any music, if I don’t have anything, I have to keep the audience engaged with the story every second”.
The film is inspired by a story told on a Danish Radio show where a young man opened up about his boyhood abuse. It was later revealed that the story was made up by the young man who was, at the time, receiving mental care. This is the essence of Dogme ‘95, according to Eiding. She said: “That’s what Dogme ‘95 is all about. You never know if it’s based on a real event or not, but that doesn’t matter because we can all relate to the films in one way or another regardless.” The film follows all the rules set out in the manifesto making it the first-ever Dogme ‘95 film.
There have been 35 films according to the Dogme ‘95 movement between 1998 and 2005. They all share the same way of portraying human emotions, which is also the main theme in the majority of the films. Some of these films touch on heavy topics like abuse, racism, prostitution, mental health and homicide. Whilst others focus on more light-hearted topics such as love, friendship and the relatable ups and downs one faces. The last Dogme ‘95 film was released in 2004 when the movement was coming to an end. The pioneers of Dogme ‘95, Vinterberg and von Trier had already moved onto different challenges and wanted to close the Dogme ‘95 chapter. However, with the big impact the movement made the ripples of Dogme ‘95 can still be felt in the world of cinema today. In an interview with a Danish TV host about the movement coming to an end, Vinterberg said: “It was always meant to be a wave and they don’t go on forever.” He then went on to further say: “Dogme has been accepted and corrupted, that’s natural. But that doesn’t make it any less important. Now you have to fight against it once more. You can’t say, ‘Oh, we in-vented Dogme back in 1995 and then go back to sleep. It’s a constant renewal process. As an artist you have a duty to be skating on thin ice at all times.” Tuoriniemi emphasises that: “Regardless of the movement ending, it goes down as a pinnacle in the history of film and filmmakers are, to this day, still following the strict manifesto trying to make something similar to a Dogme ‘95 movie.”
The movement introduced us to a different side of cinema, one heavily influenced by the Danish principles of emotionally vulnerable art, this way of making cinematic art will never die out. The movement is undeniably one of the most impactful film movements and was the start of some incredible directing careers for many filmmakers.