I never thought of myself as a feminist, and furthermore a campaigner for women's rights. Therefore I had not anticipated the immense feeling that came over once I left the cinema after watching this fantastic drama. As I strolled out, the world seemed somewhat questionable, even today, and I reflected on the times I had felt I was dismissed to participate in certain activities for simply being a girl. I don't want to seem like I'm preaching, but I really did, with the main question lingering in mind: Are men and women truly equal in the 21st century?
This is an argument that could lead to an endless debate, but a few points struck me that evening. For example, men are still paid a higher wage in some jobs. Women are expected to be replaced when they go on maternity leave and do not return to their original post on occasions when they return. In some countries, women are still heavily exploited in terms of labour.
Although, aside from this, women do have equal opportunities and in Britain at any rate. They have the same chance to go to university, they can please themselves just as men do and are not bound by social constrictions, although some jobs still retain a man or woman stereotype. Back in the early 1900s, women had little for to claim their own and the film certainly emphasises this. They had rights over their children. Only in 1925 was a law established to secure women's right to see their children. This issue is particularly addressed in the film and certainly saddened me.
As for the film itself, I thought it was an in-genuis piece of drama, with Carey Mulligan offering an exceptional leading performance. The film offers a great perspective on how working class women got in involved with the suffragette cause, contesting previous conceptions which suggest that this was an exclusive middle and upper class movement. The extent to which women went to declare their message was shown to a great, with rather harrowing scenes that shocked me and left me in ore of their selflessness and bravery.
I know we have had an election rather recently but seeing what these women endured to gain us the right to vote, encourages the idea that all women should use their vote even in ode to those women, even if you take no interest in politics. Seeing this masterpiece will influence you to exercise this right, or will provide you with admiration for women of the early twentieth century.
I only recently managed to watch this masterpiece after many people either quoted it or urged me to watch it, claiming it to be a 'classic' of the later 20th century. I was not disappointed. The film is truly a gem of the industry and this year celebrates thirty years from its release in 1985. Written and directed by John Hughes, the film focuses on a group of five high school students who are thrown together in a detention session held on a Saturday. Each student represents a stereotype of the conventional American high school. You have the jock or athlete (Andrew Clark), the princess or prom queen (Claire Standish), the criminal or bad boy (John Bender), the brain or the geek (Brian Ralph Johnson) and finally the outcast or basket case, (Allison Reynolds).
At first the film seems to have little content, just showing kids messing around in a library. However as the film progresses each character begins to emerge and it seems that they have more in common than they previously thought. After destroying parts of the library, making trips about the school in secret and smoking cannabis, the students begin to open up about their lives behind closed doors and reveal their inner demons. Although from the outset you understand that all the students are to do a day in detention, you are never told why. The creativity of Hughes's script allows the viewer to continue to be gripped to the screen, longing to find out why the students, some of which have unsuspected behavioural problems, find themselves in detention.
As each student shares their problems with the rest of the group, the narrative begins to finally piece together. We learn that Andrew is easily influenced by others and is constantly concerned with his image and is hammered by pressure from his father to excel as a wrestler. Claire is worried over her status as a virgin and hates the fact she frequently finds herself in the middle of arguments between her divorced parents. Allison is a compulsive liar who is ignored by her parents and therefore struggles to fit in. Brain attempted suicide due to a bad grade he received and from the building pressure of his parents to achieve a high GPA. Finally, John is often subject to abuse from his father and watches his mother being beaten by him.
This film really does capture our hearts and minds as I'm sure we can emphasise with at least one of the characters and their daily struggles. But what message is Hughes's attempting to portray in this film? Ultimately these five students act as a microcosm of western society. Each individual is a stereotype and placed into a certain clique, which is consequently echoed in society when people are placed in to a group due to their distinctive traits, talents or wealth.
What can we learn from 'The Breakfast Club'? We learn that it is incorrect to judge anyone on their appearance. By the end of the film Brian completes the task set by the principal to write an essay on 'who they think they are'. Brian adequately answers this question in simple terms that no matter who he thinks he is, he will still be judged in the eyes of others as a stereotypical geek. This certainly made me reflect on these words, and led me to believe this is entirely true. People who do not know definitely judge you on your appearances, which is now elevated through social media. Additionally, this film teaches us that everyone deserves a second chance. When Andrew first meets Allison he, as we all do, judges her on her appearances and social behaviour. The last thing he does is consider her as a romantic interest. By the end of the film, once barriers between the characters are dissolved, Allison allows Claire to give her a make over. Struck by her revealed beauty, Andrew totally changes his mind and ends up kissing Allison at the end of the film.
This film is ingenious in many ways but particularly as it is set in one day and in one room. Hughes's exceptional script has helped it develop in to one of the best films ever made which is still relevant today. Some people believe that brilliant films are defined by amazing graphics, famous actors or packed with plenty of action. Although these types of films are often great, its the films that offer a didactic message and connect emotionally with the viewer that are my favourite. For me, 'The Breakfast Club' is one of the best realist films of the 20th century, along with When Harry Met Sally of course.
Since watching the new release starring Carey Mulligan, I believe Hardy's tale has a well known truth woven within his narrative. Although this book was released in 1874, approximately 150 years ago, we can still apply the moral message it showcases to our society today. It is timeless.
The three candidates for Miss Bathsheba Everdene, the lead role in this tale, sum up stereotypes we come across each day. They may already inhabit a place in your life at this current moment.
Firstly we encounter Mr Oak, with the forename Gabriel he is automatically depicted as the 'angel' or hero of the story. Gabriel is fiercely loyal to Miss Bathsheba Everdene and falls in love with her almost immediately on her arrival at her aunts farm. He proposes to her shortly afterwards but she declines as they were little acquainted. He is six years her senior and a quiet man who lives a frugal and simple life. However he is kind, and caring and most importantly a gentleman. Played by Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts in the film, he is quietly handsome and rather rugged as a shepherd which has its own charm. In the modern day, Gabriel represents the friend or the guy that is always there for whenever you need him most.
Secondly we have William Boldwood, an older and wiser man with plenty of money who inhabits a nearby successful farm. Boldwood becomes obsessed with Miss Everdene after she sends him a valentine card, but she does not accept his proposal as she does not love him, although she thinks over the offer as he is the most eligible bachelor in the district. Michael Sheen portrays the character very well in the recent film. Today Mr Boldwood I'm sure is equalled by people similar to his situation, a wealthy man is always attractive although as the saying goes, money cannot buy you happiness.
Thirdly we meet Sergeant Troy, an obviously attractive man and a deadly charmer. Tempted by his alluring character and his dangerous profession, Bathsheba finds her infatuated with Troy and marries him through jealously as he explains of the woman he once loved. After all, women love a man in a uniform. His formidable character however becomes too much and Bathsheba simply falls out of what was a hasty attachment with him. He is eventually killed off by Mr Boldwood who shoots Troy when he grabs Miss Everdene in a rather violent manner. The classic tall, dark an handsome stereotype played perfectly by Tom Sturridge remains supreme in this tale. These traits are still pursued by women in society today; not much has changed. Although we may deny it, its true, women love the bad boys, that element of unexpected and the daring behaviour still impresses women. The lesson we learn however is looks are not everything and being risky or unstable is certainly not the best either. Despite Troy's charm he finds himself in binary opposition to our hero Gabriel; he is most definitely not a gentleman.
So what is the message Far From the Madding Crowd leaves us to reflect on? Ultimately the good guy wins over the girl after her dismissal of him originally. The moral of the story is, don't be fooled by the flashy guy. The guy who gets all the attention, and possibly loves himself more than he loves you. Bathsheba was right not to agree to the marriage with Mr Boldwood who she knew would not make her happy, even with his copious amounts of money. Finally we turn to our hero Gabriel. His loyalty, gentlemanly manner and his kind and humble approach to life is after all what we all desire. Once he decides to leave, it dawns on Bathsheba that she cannot be without him and is ardently in love with him. Whilst this story is a didactic tale, it also embodies the perfect and realistic fairytale but rather than the 'prince' being a man of wealth, he is our simple farmer, a 'prince' I'm sure we all have or will have in our lives.
I'm officially on my campaign to reach that desired 'summer body' which is so heavily publicised in the build up to the summer holidays. As a student, my summer holidays are very loooonnnggg but great as they are filled with chilling with friends in the sun, trips out on bike rides and walks, and of course flying off aboard to see some more guaranteed sunshine.
So, why am I blogging about fitness? I feel women are pressured to 'look good' physically. I agree men also experience this pressure however all over Twitter, Instagram and in the press are images which show the 'ideal' women's body, basically an image of an athletic woman complete with six pack. Moreover in magazines, frequently across the front pages show women of the celeb world who have 'put on weight' or 'lost their shape'. I'm no fitness fanatic, but with all the fitness promotions appearing in the media in the run up to summer I have been inspired to partake in more physical activity, including spending half a dozen hours a week in the gym. I don't believe everyone needs to be going to the gym every day, but I do think partaking in some form of physical activity once a week has no end of benefits. Women especially are being targeted in these campaigns as surveys demonstrate that so many more men exercise on a weekly basis than women. Recently we witnessed the release of the Sport England's 'This Girl Can' campaign which was aimed at everyday women, who work full time, are single parents or simply want to go and get fitter to exercise. It shows women playing sport, on runs, in the gym; they are all simply participating in exercise.
The recent release of the Nike advert also perfectly summarises the plea for ordinary women to get fit, with each individual participating in activity that is not necessarily intense, but is right for them. The group of women are endeavouring to 'get fitter' although they are no gym addicts themselves. The slogan and message emphasised by the video is 'Better For It' which promotes the idea that no matter what exercise you do, you will feel the benefit.
So what are the benefits of exercise on a regular basis?
Sense of achievement
Reduces heart disease
Reduces risk of cancer
Helps you to to set goals
Reduces the risk of dementia
Reduces the risk of osteoporosis
Reduces likeliness of depression, stress and anxiety
Enhances mental perfomance
Improves you skin
Prevents muscle decay
So go on, get out and there and get fit. Even if your playing tennis once a week, going swimming on the occasion or going for regular jogs. Trust me- you will feel 'better for it'.
After missing the release of The Imitation Game at the cinema, I sat down a couple of nights ago and watched it and it did not fail to live up to my expectations; it was fantastic. I was both astounded and saddened to know the final fate of Alan Turing, the inspiration behind the film. The film focuses on the cracking of the Nazi enigma code in the Second World War led by Alan, the breaking of this code effectively won the war for the Allies. Real emphasis is placed on Alan's invention 'Christopher', the enigma code translator, which has now been regarded as the first computer ever built. Despite his efforts, Mr Turing was dismissed as a 'hero' of the war and his achievements were previously overlooked due to the discovery that he was a homosexual, an illegal offence at the time. He underwent horrific chemical treatments to try and 'cure' him of this 'disease'. In recent times, Alan's triumph has been recognised as one of the biggest achievements in British history and he has been pardoned by the Queen, however only recently in December 2014 for his 'scandalous' behaviour. Alan maintained the phrase that 'Sometimes it's the people no one imagined anything of do things which no one ever imagined', which perfectly summaries his achievement. He is now regarded as the pioneer of our modern day computers, which we cannot live without and with his 'Christopher' it is said he shortened the war by over two years. I think this quote by Alan is always something we should remember. If your ever feeling like you can't reach your dreams, are being overlooked, or are having a bad day, don't forget that if you persist hard enough you can accomplish anything you want to.
Additionally, Benedict Cumberbatch (oo I love his name) portrayed Alan's trials and tribulations perfectly, I think this is possibly Cumberbatch's best performance yet. Cumberbatch, who is renowned as Sherlock Holmes on the BBC series Sherlock, Starter for Ten and Atonement, I felt deserved a Bafta for his performance in this film, however his rival Eddie Redmayne playing Professor Stephen Hawking also delivered an excellent performance in The Theory of Everything (also worth a watch). So I recommend an evening in watching The Imitation Game, maybe get some popcorn to add to the cinematic experience, you don't want to miss it.
Alan Turing 1912-1954
Below is the trailer of The Imitation Game- so check it out!
Now we know the result, it is interesting to consider how many young people went out and voted in the election. Many people who were very apprehensive over what proportion of 18-24 year olds were to actually turn up to the polling stations. A survey conducted by CosRes suggested that 1 in 4 young people did not vote. I think this is rather true. For example, out of my 6 flatmates, only 3 of us voted and interestingly they are all girls. Since 1992 the turn out from young voters in Britain has dramatically declined, but why is this? It is possibly due to the fact that now young voters must register individually on the electoral register rather than by household.
So how did we do in 2015? According to Sky News, and with thanks to the British Electoral Study, 6 out of 10 young people voted in the election. Thats more than half! This is an improvement on the last two elections, as the turn out this year was 58% compared with the 52% in 2010 and 38% in 2005. Issues such as the state of the NHS, immigration and tuition fees have all grasped the attention of young voters, however I believe its the increase of use of social media by political parties and by politicians that has really captivated the young people of Britain. For example, on May the 7th, Facebook had a automated status you could post declaring that you had taken part in the election. The continuous flow of the caption 'so and so has voted in the 2015 general election' on newsfeeds across the country may have encouraged young voters who had registered to go and submit their polling card. Also Twitter was highly active throughout the build up to the election with various politicians tweeting their manifestos which may have also enticed young people to go out and vote. Something I noticed was the emphasis placed on young women to go out and vote, with many twitter campaigns sharing images of the suffragettes furiously campaigning for the vote back in 1918 which was possibly initiated as we are nearing the one hundred year anniversary of gaining that right.
Social media is the perfect way for politicians to contact the young generation, as nearly everyone has Facebook or Twitter or some form of network that allows them to connect with people beyond the walls of their home. I therefore think in the next election of 2020, we will witness, I hope, an increase in young people actively taking part in the election because they are aware of its implications.
For me, and I know many of you out there will share this view, the vote is important for young people. I think we need to continue to turn out for the vote, don't think it doesn't concern you. Remember this government and Mr Cameron will be in power for the next 5 years. A lot can happen in this time. I will be finished university and looking for a job, which is when governmental policies will come in to play in my life. Also I agree that all you women out there should vote for all those women who gained you that right, gave up their lives and went to extreme measures. So if there is anything we can learn from this election, its keep updated on politics through social media, its more important than you may think!
As a young and rather carefree twenty year old nearing the end of her second year of university many ask, have I given thought to my future? And the answer is always is of course I have! (followed by a list of a series of jobs I would like to do, which I continually add to the more people ask me this question), although I always think to my self, the future scares me! Only the other day a group of friends and I discussed silly things like, who out of all our friends is most likely to have children first, become famous, get a tattoo, become a millionaire... then we got on the dreaded subjects of weddings. You must not deny it, and gentlemen if your reading this, yes it goes through our heads... the image of the perfect wedding. Obviously this image is imagined with money as no object as it often involves brass bands, beautiful country estates and the 'perfect' dress which funnily enough doesn't have a price tag. I agree as many people do that your wedding day is the best and most memorable day of your life, however its those little moments with others that you should treasure. I think everyone forgets this and before you know it, life has gone from under your feet and your nearing the end. As much as talking about weddings and other things excite me, knowing I have some wonderful times to look forward to, we should cherish the unknown and the time we sit talking about these events.
I'm sure this 'wow, I'm no where near achieving my goals yet' feeling or anxiety is fairly normal with many young people, but all you can do is take steps in the right direction.
Lets think about it this way; one of the most beautiful things about life is you don't know where your going, if you did, wouldn't it be dull?
Below is the John Lewis advert from 2010. Although you may think this is fairly random, don't worry its very relevant. Its shows exactly how people perceive life to be, following through from one life stage to the next. The reality is, life stages don't exist. Many people (well girls) say, 'by the time I'm 28 I want to married with my first child on the way', however if you knew that, wouldn't you just be anticipating the event? Think about life as a train. You get on at one platform (your birth) and then its a continuous ride until you get off at your final destination. It may slow down at points, but it picks up again. It may break down, but don't worry, it gets repaired. This advert is the perfect summary of what everyone wants life to be, and what life essentially should be. Also the soundtrack, 'Always a Woman', originally sung by Billy Joel is a beautiful song.
Think about what now means for you. For me now, life is about music, plenty of it, listening to anything and everything at every opportunity. I love finding new bands or songs by upcoming artists. Its about going out, with friends, if its to the local pub, for a coffee or out on the town. I love spending time with friends, each one of them inspires to do something differently or enlightens me on a alternative perspective of the world. Its about watching films. I love finding films on Netflix which date back to the eighties and nineties, or watching new releases at the cinema. Its about fashion. I love reading about upcoming trends, what celebs have been wearing on the red carpet, and new techniques on how to look after yourself with home remedies or how to get fit quick, I love trying out these techniques basically to see if they are any good. Life is about enjoying the moment.
John Lennon famously said 'Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans' which I believe perfectly summerises how life really happens.
After watching Clueless a couple of nights ago, I was suddenly transported back to the 1990's. I was born in 1995, so I was practically a baby for most of it however I remember some of the trends and the big countdown to the millennium. I particularly remember dancing round to Cher's Believe which was released in 1998 and is now named one of the most annoying songs of all time! Growing up in the 00's however was great, some of the greatest bands hit the charts, especially for kids. Some of these names I'm sure you'll remember: S-Club 7, Steps, Busted, Black-Eyed Peas, Backstreet Boys, Westlife... ring any bells?
Although today these old ways seem worlds away with technology moving so fast, a new iPhone being released every two years, music being purchased in majority online and with the invention of social media we are living in a revolution of our own. I'm sure ten years from now we will be thinking about how far technology has advanced from this current moment. But lets cast our minds back to a time where mobile phones had one game of 'snake', hair gel sold out in shops as men across the country spiked their hair like a hedgehog and demin littered the shops. As we all like to do once in a while lets look at some of our favourite things from the 90's and 00's, heres my list, feel free to comment!
Favourite...
Disney Film: The Little Mermaid. Although The Lion King, Robin Hood, Snow White and Cinderella are all up there. Oh I love them all!
Children's TV show: The Tweenies with my favourite being Jake, the one with the big mohawk. I actually went to see them live, yep... a true fan. Although I only really remember watching this coming home from my very first days at school, before this it would have to be the Teletubbies, with La La being my favourite there. I also remember having a Teletubby toast cut out so I could have Tubby toast every morning.
Cartoon: Spongebob. One of the funniest and oddest cartoons around. I think I saw every episode at least twice over.
Sitcom: No doubt with this one, F.R.I.E.N.D.S.! In fact I believe it is the best TV show of all time.
Sweets: Those little packets of fun gums that used to come in the shapes of teeth and toothbrushes were always nice and a popular choice at school discos, although slightly ironic thinking back as sweets are bad for your teeth...
Author: I remember being in primary school and the Jacqueline Wilson craze starting off. I think I read pretty much all of her books. I also adored the books by Roald Dahl especially The Twits and The BFG.
Meal: Something like Tuna Pasta Bake I would have enjoyed. I always liked pasta and people that know me now can support me on this, particularly at university, when looking for an easy dinner, pasta is always the first port of call.
Item of Clothing: It has to be my purple velvet top which spelt out 'Party' in stick on gems. As tacky as that may sound, I loved that top and it has be said velvet was very on trend and has made a comeback in recent years. I was also very proud of my total 90 shoes, silver and red ones to be precise, which seemed to become a massive trend with both boys and girls, as a bit of a tom-boy back then I thought they were the best thing since sliced bread.
Teacher: Mr P. Best teacher I've ever had. Even as a young seven year old he inspired me to pursue History with his practical approach to the subject. We frequently listened to old music, often by Elvis Presley as his favourite ever artist, watched films on spies in the Second World War and even dressed up as German soldiers for our assembly on Remembrance that made it into the local paper!
Songs: Ooo this is tricky as many of my favourite songs from the time would have changed now. I'll have to spilt it into two parts. As a child in the 90's- probably ...Baby One More Time by Britney Spears, a very catchy song released in 1998. From the 00's, wow thats hard as I remember so many songs- I'll narrow it down to 5 songs, the first one being Kylie Minogue- Can't Get You Out Of My Head (2001), Busted- Year 3000 (2002), Beyonce- Crazy in Love (2003), The Black Eyed Peas- Where is the Love? (2003), Your Beautiful- James Blunt (2005).
Guilty Pleasure Song: The Ketchup Song released in 2002 - although it was so bad, it was just so good wasn't it?
Artist/Band: Well its going to have to be S-Club 7, they dominated my school disco days. Everyone loved a bit of Ssssss-Club. Remember, there ain't no party like an S-Club party? Although Busted were a top band of mine, I even had some bright pink Busted pjs, yeah I was a cool kid.
Subject at school: History, always liked it and thats what I'm now studying it at degree level! Not so much dressing up involved though.
Day of the Year at School: It has to be Sports Day. Loved competing with my friends for little medals and being treated to a 99, which then were true to their name, only £1.
Male Celebrity Crush: Its gonna have to be Mr DiCaprio, who wouldn't fall for that cute face in Titanic?
Toy: As the young 00's girl I was, I had a Baby Annabelle that I loved and wanted to buy everything for, the bed, the clothes, the pram. But do you remember Furbies? I had one of those and I thought it was the best thing ever. I was also very original (not) with a collection of Barbies.
Console Game: Sims was my all time favourite game. However in the days of the Playstation 2, which my brother had, we would often play Crash Bash, a game of mini challenges with that fox like creature Crash Bandicoot. Also on Nintendo DS, the original one which I was fascinated by the touchscreen, I loved Animal Crossing. It seemed all the kids at primary school had this game and we would visit each other and stuff and whatever else you could do!
Rom-Com: The age of Rom-Com was the 1990s. Now this is bit of a retrospective question as I obviously didn't really watch romantic films when I was little. The traditional British ones are all so brilliant such as Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Pretty Woman (1990) and Notting Hill (1999), which is my all time favourite. However She's All That (1999), which I heard they are remaking soon, She's the Man (2006) which sparked my love for Channing Tatum, and 13 going on 30 (2004) are some of my ultimate favourites.
Thing you miss most about the 90's/00's: As much as I love Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the so many more social media websites, a world without it was in effect is so much easier, maybe for my age group anyway. So many times I hear girls saying 'don't put that on Facebook' or 'I'll edit that and post it later', 'they have more likes than me' or 'wow, she has 143 likes, she must be pretty'. Should we really be thinking like this and did people in the past think like this before modern technology? I just sometimes think that sites such as Facebook etc. can be compared to a giant interview room where everyone is competing for attention. Are therefore the children of today pressured from an early age to be modelled for these sites, educated on how to pose for a selfie or is it all just a bit of fun? Anyway this could spark a whole new debate. Saying that, as an avid user of all these sites does that mean I am just an average consumer of the social networking culture of the 21st century or I have fallen in to the trap of social competitiveness? I do like the fact social media allows you to share events, photos and well your opinions openly, helping you to connect with others around you, but I do miss the innocence of the 90's which did not have such social pressures, especially on young people. Also I miss the great, although somewhat cheesy music!
So, have a go answering the favourites for yourself, trust me its really fun :) and as ever feel free to make any comments.
Only a quick post on Sunday night's spectacular British Academy Awards! As ever, the evening was full of glamour, happiness and equally disappointment in some cases. This is the social gathering of the year in Britain for the best stars in hollywood, although our national heartthrob David Beckham made an appearance on the red carpet aside the likes of Reese Witherspoon, Eddie Redmayne and Benedict Cumberbatch, he's just too rich, famous and damn good looking to miss out on the opportunity! His presentation of the award for 'Outstanding British Film' really did make my evening. He stole the show really.
Although another highlight of the evening was most certainly Eddie Redmayne winning the award for 'Best Actor' for 'The Theory of Everything' which I can say is a brilliant, moving and inspiring film. He was truly fantastic, so well deserved Eddie! To add to this delightful win, the man himself, Stephen Hawking was there to witness the triumph of the film based on his life which really was a great success at this years Baftas.
Stephen Fry put on a great show as usual, full of hilarity and quick wit. His introduction of Tom Cruise to present the award for 'Best Film' really did make me laugh. Talking of Cruise, he just does not age! If there is such a thing as looking fantastic at fifty, Tom Cruise is the perfect example.
And finally it was lovely to witness the display of glamorous actors on the Red Carpet, looking at the beautiful dresses and the gorgeous gents, I can't wait for the Oscars, bring it on!
Travelling. One of my main aspirations in life is to travel, to see the world. I'm sure many of you share this desire, especially those of you who are young, finishing uni and thinking what the hell do I do with myself now?! Your probably thinking, like me, I want to do something big, worthwhile, special, life-changing which will be full of memories and most importantly loads of fun!
I mean, these days its almost a right of passage, particularly heading off to Thailand and exploring the worlds sights whilst completing the stereotypical quest of 'finding yourself'. I think travelling should be something everyone participates in, unfortunately its an expensive business, however its possible by saving up!
Why not see the world that has been created for you to explore? The discovery of different cultures may put your life into perspective or encourage you to lead a life similar to theirs. Also, travelling allows to you make friends, possibly friends for life. Going it alone with a couple of mates will put your friendship to the test, having to direct yourself across different continents, jumping on a off trains, comforting someone when they are ill, all these trials and tribulations will bring you closer to those around you. So, top tip, pick to go travelling with friends you know you can rely on!
Now, I am sure you are envisaging going 'travelling' as you and a couple of mates with a few backpacks, hiking around Thailand, partying on the beach and absorbing the culture, however this is not always the case. Travelling can mean going anywhere for any amount of time, so don't let that image put you off. If your limited in funding but still want to get away, jet off on a European city break, there is so much to see in the cities of Europe! I think for me, going inter-railing around Europe, often the cheaper alternative to jumping straight into Aisa, is a great preliminary step to the big year out. And its on my bucket list!
As always, back to my best friend +BuzzFeed here are a few inspirational videos to encourage you to take the plunge and do it, after all, YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE!
“You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you".
-Mr. Darcy” Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
We are a few weeks into the New Year, and hows 2015 going of you? Have you stuck to those New Years resolutions or are they already a distant memory? Either way, the new year, new you theme continues, particularly in the department of relationships.
It is a known fact that January is the 'break up' month. People avoid heartbreak over the holiday season, and the welcoming of a new year provides them with the justification to end their relationship, even if they were unhappy back in November!
Whether you have recently broken up with a boyfriend or girlfriend in search for a new start, or have decided to seek out your soulmate, if there is such a thing, you might refer to one of the most classic romantic tales ever produced, Pride and Prejudice by the English treasure, Jane Austen. This is a tale about 'Mr. Right', the one made for you... Or is it? Can this chivalrous fairytale be applied to everyday life, especially in this modern age? I assure you it can. Although there will be no glamorous balls or Georgian dresses, we can take the principles of this relationship to our society. Only in 2001, which actually seems a long time ago now, Bridget Jones's Diary was released onto our screens, a modern day adaptation of our classic romantic tale. For those of you who never realised it, Daniel Clever (Hugh Grant) plays the notorious Mr Wickham and Mark Darcy- big hint there (Colin Firth) plays our hero Mr Darcy. In the end, the slightly clumsier and ungracious Bridget Jones sees through Clever's wicked ways and embraces her love for Mark Darcy.
So what does this classic novel teach us about love? (not to sound too cliche) And is there a Mr Darcy out there for us all?
Elizabeth Bennet was intelligent and was able to challenge Darcy in conversation, something for women out there to remember, not to be repressed or plainly, don't date someone who you can't talk to for hours or doesn't see you as their equal!
Mr Darcy is rich and profitable, I'm not saying go after a rich boy, not at all, but understand if you are ambitious in your goals, find someone who shares this ambition with you. You won't feel comfortable dating someone who only wants to watch the football on a saturday night with a takeaway when your ideal saturday night is a trip to see the latest release followed by a pizza at an Italian restaurant.
Don't date someone who you feel you cannot share things with, the thing with Mr Darcy, although he can be abrupt, he does divulge his feelings.
Fundamentally, Mr Darcy is a gentleman. Its the little things such as opening doors, giving up their seat for you that all add to that gentlemanly manner. However, those bigger things such as listening to what you have to say, being considerate and thoughtful, and expressing concern about your welfare are all equally important traits of a gentleman.
Most importantly, Mr Darcy appreciates Elizabeth Bennet for who she is and this is famously echoed in Bridget Jones's Diary with Mark Darcy claiming he liked Bridget 'Just as she is'. Don't change for the sake of someone else, because in the long run you will regret it.
Although these traits may be recognised as 'ideal', they are out there! Who's to say they are not embedded in a friend of yours? Remember, don't reject everyone because these traits don't appear on the surface, dig a little deeper and you never know, you may find your Mr Darcy.
End of Pride and Prejudice (2005)- starring Keira Knightly and Matthew Macfadyen
'Just as you are' scene from Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)- starring Renee Zellweger and Colin Firth
Thats right, this year marks the 20th anniversary of the first airing of the American TV sitcom F.R.I.E.N.D.S! Back on the 22nd September 1994, the first episode ' The Pilot' hit American TV screens for the first time, and 10 years later the show ended. With over 200 million views across all ten seasons in the US alone, it was undoubtably a hit. The final episode of F.R.I.E.N.D.S was watched by 54.46 million people across the US, which made it the fourth most watched finale of any television series in history! But why was this American sitcom so successful, not only in America but internationality? Why do people such as myself continue to watch F.R.I.E.N.D.S?
This show just doesn't get old! Why is F.R.I.E.N.D.S still appearing on our screens everyday? In the UK, the show appeared on E4 from 2004 through to 2011 repeating the ten series and then this role was taken on later that year by Comedy Central UK in high definition and is on going. F.R.I.E.N.D.S is still watched by so many! I think the main reason being is because it has such a strong link to reality. The producers behind the show, David Crane and Marta Kauffman claimed the show was about '...sex, love, relationships, careers, a time in your life when everything's possible. And its about friendship because when your'e single and in the city, your friends are your family'. What the creators of the show refer to, is the most exciting time in your life. People can relate to the experience of the feeling of the unknown and making your way in the world. Even as a university student I agree that your friends really do become your family when you lead your own life as an individual and yes, it is very exciting. Most people understand and can relate to this statement because we have either been there already, on that journey currently, or are about to begin it. This time in your life can be lively, thrilling and most of all unpredictable. People love to revisit the years of fun, parties, the series of boyfriends or girlfriends, when in all you were living your life as an individual and experiencing everything yourself and growing as a person to become who you are in later life. This is one of the reasons F.R.I.E.N.D.S is so successful, we can watch each character grow into who they are, as they are shaped by their experiences.
Season 1- episode 1- 'The Pilot' (1994) From the very beginning, in 'The Pilot' episode, each character is portrayed differently with different qualities. This is another reason which can be attributed to the shows success. Each character has individual traits which can be related to your own friends, family or even yourself.
Season 10- episode 18- 'The Last One' (2004)
Firstly, you have Monica Geller (Courtney Cox), who acts as the mother of the group, with her bossy, and obsessive nature. Monica almost holds the group together originally, Ross as her older brother, she is friends with Chandler through Ross, and Joey through Chandler, Rachel as her old high school friend and Phoebe as her ex- flatmate. She is often made fun of for her obesity when she was younger and for her compulsive behaviour surrounding cleanliness. But Monica has a very caring heart. Feeling broody throughout all ten seasons, Monica falls in love with Chandler and marries him and goes on to adopt twins with him in the final episode.
On the contrary, Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston) embodies many things Monica does not. She was the popular girl at high school, successful with boys and in the beginning is very much a 'daddy's girl'. Once moved in with Monica, Rachel learns to become independent in the city, working her way up in the fashion industry. Rachel is romantically involved with Ross in season two, and later has a baby, Emma, with him as a consequence of their on and off relationship and a couple glasses of wine... Rachel is sweet natured and fun loving and learns to thrive in the city.
Character Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow), the most eccentric of the characters, had a rough upbringing, with her mother committing suicide and her father leaving home. She is innocent in nature and is very kind but with a strong backbone. Phoebe sings, although very obscure songs rather badly, at the Central Perk coffee house, where the group often hang out. Phoebe has an identical twin Ursula, who unlike Phoebe is cold hearted and selfish. She has a few serious relationships throughout the ten seasons and eventually marries Mike Hannigan in season ten.
Above- The F.R.I.E.N.D.S cast in 1994- from the top left,
Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer,
Matthew Perry, Courtney Cox and Jennifer Aniston.
Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry) is the 'funny one' of the group due to his very sarcastic humour. He is known for having bad luck with women and for his annoying ex- girlfriend Janice who he dates in season one. He later falls in love with Monica after they begin seeing each other after Ross's wedding in London. Chandler is sweet, understanding and has a good heart.
Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc) is a typical ladies man and food lover. He is an actor who gets a big break on the television show Days of our Lives. Joey is Chandler's room mate for most of the seasons, however Rachel moves in for a while in later seasons. Joey and Rachel have a brief romance, but they decide to just stay friends. Although simple-minded, Joey is affectionate and warm hearted.
Ross Geller (David Schwimmer), is Monica's older brother is the most academic of the group, working as a palaeontologist. This is coupled with his geeky behaviour, often boring the group with stories about dinosaurs. However, Ross is warm hearted and sweet but can be socially awkward and a little clumsy. Ross has three failed marriages throughout the ten seasons, which is often made fun of by the others. Ross has an on and off relationship with Rachel throughout all ten seasons, and frequently gets jealous of Rachel's boyfriends. Ross and Rachel confess their love for each other in the final episode.
Above- the F.R.I.E.N.D.S cast in 2004,
at the end of season ten.
So why else has F.R.I.E.N.D.S been so successful?
The shows story lines are certainly very relatable. They focus on the 'everyday', for example the struggle with jobs, such as Rachel's hate for waitressing, Chandler's boring job, or Monica's struggle to find work as a chef. They look at simple things such as dealing with parents, we see this with Rachel's difficult father and Monica's nitpicky mother. There is the focus on various relationships in the group, with many of the members having a few serious relationships such as Ross and Emily, Monica and Richard and Phoebe and David.
Moreover, the relationship story lines within the group, such as Ross and Rachel hooked us to the show. They were constantly on and off but they knew they really wanted to be together and so did we! They were such a perfect couple in season two, and everyone loves a bit of romance! However, the reality of witnessing the break up of Ross and Rachel in season three added a huge sense of realism to the show as it is not in keeping with the traditional fairytale ending. Their love for each other is a constant theme of the show, with them getting back together briefly at the beginning of season four even the group visit the beach, Ross saying Rachel's name at the alter when marrying Emily, the drunken Vegas wedding and divorce and having baby Emma in season eight. As Phoebe says in 'The One with the Prom Video'- 'he's her lobster!', meaning they are meant for each other and should be together forever.
The unexpected relationship that forms with Monica and Chandler after a drunken night in London is again in keeping with the reality theme. This couple formed not by meeting eyes across a room, but in a way suited to the modern day. They found something they had always wanted but never realised it was so near. Monica and Chandler show real love, especially when Chandler confesses his love for Monica when kissing Phoebe and when Monica tries to propose to Chandler after Richard asks her to marry him. Their relationship was one we could track in the show, right from them hiding it from the group, to their wedding in season eight. In their wedding vows, we almost feel a little emotional when we realise how far this couple has come and how all the characters had really grown up. Back in season one, I think I personally, and many more of you may agree that insecure and commitment afraid Chandler wouldn't be one to get married whilst the show aired. But then who knew it would last a decade, a lot can change!
F.R.I.E.N.D.S has been so successful it has a song totally attributed to the show. 'I'll Be There for You' by The Rembrandts is the introduction song to the show and it became an instant hit, remaining in the top 100 chart songs in the US for 8 weeks. Additionally, further afield came number three in the UK singles chart, reached third in Australia and seventeen in the US billboard top 100. Its a classic, now only ever associated with the American sitcom!
Not only has F.R.I.E.N.D.S impacted people with its own song, but it has set trends internationality! We all remember in season two, Rachel's layered style hair cut? This was such a huge hit with women across the US and in other countries where the show was popular, it became known as 'The Rachel'. Moreover, Joey's catch phrase 'How you doin?' became such a popular line, it is instantly recognisable by any person who has seen the show and frequently used across Western cultures. On and off relationships can be commonly referred to a 'Ross and Rachel', with the famous line 'We were on a break' cropping up. People often describe people as 'just like Monica or Joey from F.R.I.E.N.D.S'.
Most importantly, F.R.I.E.N.D.S is hilarious! Every episode there is something to laugh about! If its not the running jokes, such as Ross's failed marriages, Chandler's lack of of luck with women or Joey's luck with women! Its the celebrity guests, such as Brad Pitt or Reese Witherspoon who add extra humour to the show. The one liners such which all cast members execute so excellently stick in our minds. The big episodes such as 'The One Where Rachel Tells Ross' or 'The One with Ross's Wedding Part 2', although they have a serious undertone, are hilarious!
F.R.I.E.N.D.S is a show that is going to be remembered for a long time. I presume it will continue to be showed for many years to come! I believe the true success of the show is due to its clear link to reality. Its focus on the life of young people, who are living unstable lives, both with relationships and with careers is highly relatable to many young people of our time, and for that matter, older people who can relate to this setup. F.R.I.E.N.D.S demonstrates the modern lifestyle many people lead today, showing that our friends can become your family. Its emphasis on the daily troubles of life makes it even more relatable to audiences watching. The University of Buffalo, USA, claimed that F.R.I.E.N.D.S changed American culture forever. It is evident this American sitcom has had a huge impact on many people and is part of our generation we will never forget. It as one of the best comedy series if all time, teaching us all sorts of life lessons along the way, and most of all demonstrating how important your friends really are!
Happy twenty years F.R.I.E.N.D.S! I am sure you are going to be around for a long time yet!
An interview with the cast back in 1994- no one knew then the impact this show would have on western culture, the international success and how long it would appear on our screens!
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