Channel 4’s Hunted: Light-hearted entertainment or insidious propaganda?

I’m not a big fan of reality television.

I dislike the way it pretends to be an unfiltered representation of ‘real life’, when everyone watching knows perfectly well that it’s about as authentic as a soap opera. I get annoyed at formulaic set ups which try to pass themselves off as uniquely exciting, and generally find the participants of these shows irritating at best.

Yet, last year I found myself tuning in week after week to a television programme containing every single one of these elements.

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The Bucket-is-Batman List

Exactly what it says on the tin.

 

Radio Silence by Alice Oseman

Radio Silence is a wonderful book that exactly captures what it feels like to be me. Or at least what it has felt like, at times.

Obviously not in every single aspect (never have I been so thankful for my school friends, with whom I have had many a serious discussion about which Harry Potter character we are), but as I eagerly devoured it I couldn’t help but find the resemblance almost uncanny.

American Vandal- satire, silliness and style

I’ll be honest, judging from the summary- “Truth. Justice. Dicks.”-  I was slightly sceptical before I started to watch American Vandal.

I’m glad that I persevered after the first few episodes, as it fast became one of those shows when you don’t just want to watch the next episode, you need to. Urgently. Until you’ve reached the end and don’t know what to do with your life.

New Pompeii by Daniel Godfrey

If I had to sum up my reaction to New Pompeii in one sentence it would be this: interesting premise, uninspiring execution.

That’s not to say that it contains no positive features, as it definitely does, but I was largely underwhelmed by the plot, narration and characters.

Is Rick and Morty ‘proper’ sci-fi?

I was watching Irish people on YouTube react to Rick and Morty when one of them said something that stuck in my mind: ‘I don’t consider [Rick and Morty] sci-fi though’. 

That got me thinking: what is it about Rick and Morty that differentiates it in the minds of the average media consumer from the rest of science fiction?

The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry

“I am torn and I am mended – I want everything and need nothing – I love you and I am content without you.

Even so, come quickly!”

It’s not often that I read a book which I feel like I can recommend to everyone, a book that I believe both my mother and my best friend- people who have generally disparate albeit overlapping tastes- will get something out of.

So, on the occasion that I stumble across a book of this rare and special type, like The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry, it is generally a very rare and special book indeed.

Poem about looking at nature and stuff

An open letter

Dear MenKind,

When I entered your shop, I saw that your tagline was ‘Original Gifts for Men’.  

First, these gifts are in no way original. ‘Gifts for Men that Can Also be Found in Several Other Shops and Online Probably for a Cheaper Price’, would be more accurate.

apples on the street next to trees