Students on De Montfort University’s Arts and Entertainment Journalism module pick the films, plays, music, TV shows and books that shaped them
A book that surprised me…
Milk and Honey by Rupi Kuiar. When I received this book as a birthday present, I was so excited to dive into it, having heard many a mixed review. Honestly, I was let down, it reminded me a lot of the things I and other poets have stored in our notes app – unfinished, unpolished and not yet meaningful. Rupi’s inst-poems are just that, and I would argue that’s while they might be fun to read while scrolling through social media, they have no place in printed form alongside real poetry collections.
The last film I watched…
The Babadook – utterly terrifying. Jennifer Kent’s psychological thriller/ horror captures the monstrous embodiment of grief and sheds light on depression and mental health in a way that is not often explored in film.
The last gig I went to…
The 1975 at Nottingham Motorpoint Arena. Matt Healy, while arguably a bit of a knob, is a lyrical genius and the band certainly know how to work a crowd. The gig consisted of their best songs throughout their history, performed to a perfection that is often hard to find in live music. Matt’s voice, despite the on-stage cigarettes, hit notes across the scale, from the tender lines of ‘You’ to the rebellious screams of ‘Love It If We Made It.’ This was possibly one of the best gigs I’ve been to.
My all-time favourite band…
Nirvana – while other 10-year-old girls were coming down with Bieber Fever, my dad introduced me to the grungy world of Nirvana, thick with salty guitar riffs and perfectly imperfect lyrics – I’ve never looked back.
A poet I admire….
Stephen James Smith. I had the honour of meeting and interviewing them earlier this year, they’re a lovely person and an extremely talented writer, I recommend ‘My Ireland’ and ‘The Garden’ if you’d like to read some beautifully moving poetry.
A lyric I wish I’d written…
‘The war has been incited and guess what? You’re all invited’ See? I told you he’s a lyrical genius.
A film I cringe at…
Trainspotting – don’t get me wrong I love this film, I finally got around to watching it a few weeks back and I was not disappointed – it’s gritty and stark, shocking but also hilarious, it embodies everything I’d want in a 90’s heavy drugs drama – but it’s the toilet scene that does it for me!
A box set I’m hooked on….
Misfits – my jaw was on the ground from the first episode and it just got better from there. I’ve cried, I’ve laughed, I can’t wait to see what else is in store.
A musical I would recommend…
I watched the TV adaptation of Heathers recently. Musicals aren’t always my thing but then again this isn’t your average musical. Based on Daniel Waters’ black comedy, the musical possesses the colour, choreography and ceiling shattering top notes of a great stage show with all the gritty twists and turns of a Stephen King novel. I’d definitely recommend it, but not if you want something lighthearted. I’m terms of classics I’d always recommend Mamma Mia, who doesn’t love singing along to a bit of ABBA?
My comfort book…
The Silver Brumby by Elyne Mitchell, closely followed by War Horse by Michael Mopurgo.