Reflective Log

By: Ashley Barrow

My short time in this class has definitely been a learning experience. It was an adjustment coming to a new campus, with new people and different grading criteria. I learned how to think outside of the box and that journalism is never straightforward. It takes a lot of creative thinking even for news stories and it requires many skills that are developed over time.

I highly enjoyed my time in the class but I was also hoping for a little more structure. I wasn’t used to the open-endedness of the class because at my university in the United States there are more scantron tests. Although I wasn’t used to it I also appreciated how much freedom we had to write about whatever we wanted. I challenged myself to become more adaptable and this is a skill that I developed during the class. I’m starting to realize that as an aspiring journalist you have to be open to new ideas and standards. I developed strong critical thinking skills during the course of the class and I learned how to think on my feet quickly.

Although I am happy with the stories I wrote I ran into a technical problem with the computer and lost two of my documents therefore had to retype them within the time frame of a couple hours on deadline which was frustrating.

I enjoyed having the tutorial on the adobe final cut pro software, although I wish I had more time to learn it. I am not too happy with my video given the fact that I ran out of time.

I spent a lot of time filming with the camera, but lost it all and it didn’t save so I had to come up with an alternative and use videos I did have saved. Although the video isn’t what I wanted it to be considering I had to resort to iMovie I still feel I learned a lot about filming in the class that I can apply to future internships in journalism.

It was interesting to have the opportunity to come up with our own news story during the live news day. I found myself critically thinking and thinking about which stories might be of interest to the reader. It was challenging to come up with a story on the spot, but I liked that aspect of the course.

It was exciting to write about the culture of London and to develop my own stories. I became more confident in my writing and really tried to polish it. Although I ran into some technical difficulties I learned a lot of professional skills that I can apply to internships and a future job such as time management, social media newsgathering, and the ability to “think online” meaning the ability to adapt and learn as technology changes.

I found this class to be engaging and I am happy I took part in this course. I am able to take away more skills and have developed thicker skin which I know is required of a journalist.

Seven Places You Might Not Know About in England

Pictured above are places that are unique and not always the typical tourist attractions while visiting London: 

1. The Roman Baths- This is located in the city of Bath which is a beautiful historical site in the English city of Bath. Although it is a major tourist attraction many people visiting London might not have time to go because it is about two hours away. If you’re looking to venture out into a different city in England than this is a unique place to explore.
2. Seven Sisters Sea Cliffs- These are a series of stunning sea cliffs located by the English Channel in Sussex, England. Although it is almost a three hour journey from central London the trip is definitely worth the view.
3. The Cereal Killer Cafe- This cafe is located at Camden Market which is a very popular market in London, although many tourists do not seem know about it. It is a fun experience to sit in the cafe and have all you can eat cereal with any topping.
4. Street performers at Trafalgar Square- Although many landmarks such as The National Gallery and Soho are located in this area many tourists are too busy to stand and watch the street performers. It is often very amusing to see the talent of a London street performer in Trafalgar Square and many other streets in London.
5. Camden Market Vintage Shops- There is so much shopping to do in London. A lot of the tourists seem to flock to Oxford Street with the high end shopping, but there are a lot of interesting shops at different street markets including Camden Market where one can pick up a unique souvenir for family and friends.
6. Coppa Club- This is a beautiful restaurant located in Tower Bridge, London. Not only can you see the view of the shard and the Tower of London, but it also feels like you’re eating in a garden.
7. Pink Floyd Exhibition- I noticed a lot of British people in this exhibtion. If you’re a music lover than you need to visit this exhibiton. It not only unveils the music background of the English band Pink Floyd, but it also gives a detailed history about London and how it used to be up to present day.

A profile: Andrew Scott Gives Hamlet a Modern Twist

By: Ashley Barrow

“To be or not to be that is the question:” Andrew Scott while playing Hamlet The Prince in Hamlet on July 18 at The Harold Pinter Theatre. Soothing, yet dramatic, Scott knows how to relate to the audience even though the play was written in the 1600’s.

Every line was perfected and he was able to exaggerate, yet relate to the audience at the same time. A profile in Evening Standard said, “As his career-defining Hamlet comes to West End, Andrew Scott speaks to Marcus Field about moving away from psychopath roles, rejecting religion and the future of Sherlock.”

I noticed during the course of the play that Scott is very intimate with the audience. He sees to talk to the audience with some of the lines and truly mesmerizes everyone with every line. He also has a very naturalistic approach to his acting that makes the audience think about real life situations. Scott seems to make the show a world of his own and seems to bring out real life issues that could be relatable to the audience.

Scott seems to put his whole heart and soul into the performance. “To die, to sleep- to sleep, perchance to dream- ay, there’s rub, for in this sleep of death what dreams may come…”. During this part of the play I noticed that Scott seemed to be almost talking to the audience in a soothing way. It wasn’t very dramatic, yet captivating to the audience at the same time. An article in gaytimes.co.uk states, “Andrew Scott absolutely shines in his bold, ambitious and intelligent reimagining of the Shakespearean tragedy. Adopting a conversational style, he breathes new life- and on occasion, some much-needed humour- into Hamlet’s well-known soliloquies. It’s a complex performance ranging from quiet contemplating to maddening rage, adopting the whole gamut of emotions in-between, but in each scene, he oozes authenticity. It’s evidently a hugely demanding role but he never falters, delivering a captivating performance from start to finish.”

The main aspect that I grasped about Scott is that he performed in an authentic way. He truly brings out the modern-day issues through his acting and lets the audience relate to his performing on a deeper level. After seeing Scott perform live I have a deeper appreciation for Scott and London theatre in general. It makes a big difference to find out how a performer acts in person instead of finding out about who performers are on the computer.

Opinion Piece: Theatre More Interactive in London Than Any Other City

By: Ashley Barrow

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It can be overwhelming how much performing arts takes over the city of London. From outdoor theatre, to opera, to classic musicals it’s hard to choose from. There is something vibrant and colorful about a city where you can meet a theatrical performer walking around the streets of Soho or have the opportunity to see a movie premiere around Leisure Square.

I’ve seen dozens of musicals in different cities including Philadelphia, Providence and New York, but there is something more unique about theatre in London. Neil MacGregor, British Art Historian and Museum Director stated, “London theatre is different: It is a commercial theatre that brings the whole of society into one place. And Shakespeare grasped, better than anyone else, what it means to engage the entire audience.”

Tristan and Yseult at the Shakespeare’s Globe was the first performance I saw when arriving in London. The play is about the adulterous love between the Knight Tristan (Tristram) and the Irish princess Iseult. During the course of the play, it feels as if the narrator is talking directly at you. According to the Shakespeare globe website “it has been hailed by critics as ‘a triumph’, ‘deliriously joyful’ and ‘breathtaking in every respect’. It was after watching this performance that I started to form my opinion of theatre in London. This was unlike anything that I have ever seen before. It was so dramatic and full of life, unlike anything I have ever seen in any other city. At one point in the play one of the actors went out into the audience and started to actually speak to the audience. It was part of the play, but it was unlike anything I have ever seen before. Being that it is an outdoor theater this was different than any other play I have seen.

When I saw “The Book of Mormon” at Prince of Wales Theatre in Leisure Square it was unlike any other show I have seen before. Although it was a musical the performers really seemed to connect with the audience on a deeper level. From almost falling out of my seat from laughing, to nearly crying at some points in it, I truly felt immersed in the show. As stated in a review by British Theatre, “Scott Pask’s set design was inventive and immersive, from the saccharine Orlando backdrop which made way to a “Spooky Mormon Hell Dream” (complete with a guitar playing Satan), to the Ugandan slums which served as a locate for the bulk of the show.” During parts in the play it almost felt as if the actors were laughing with the audience and I felt immersed in the show. It was more of an experience, than a show.

About a week later I saw “Hamlet” and considering I’ve never seen the show in any other cities I really didn’t know what to expect consi. I was expecting it to be more of an old three and a half hour play with lines that I didn’t really understand. ‘To be or not to be that is the question’…this is the line that blew me away and almost made me cry because it felt like Andrew Scott who plays Hamlet, Prince of Denmark was almost speaking directly at the audience. The characters actually walked out into the audience at points and started to speak to them directly as part of the lines of the play. For only 15 pounds which is a very rare price for such a popular play this was so interactive and unlike any play I have ever seen before. A review of the show in The Telegraph states, “This is the kind of evening of which legends are made, one of those rare first nights that those who were present are never likely to forget. This old, and perhaps over familiar, play suddenly seems wonderfully fresh, urgent and young again.”

London theatre is by far the most interactive I have ever seen before. It is full of life, I noticed it usually has a bit of an edge to it, and it makes you feel like you are the characters sometimes which is not something I have seen before in any other city.

 

Three Hours Well Spent in Pink Floyd’s Exhibition

By: Ashley Barrow

 

Did you know that Pink Floyd’s founding members Nick Mason and Roger Waters studied at The University of Westminster? The University used to be known as Regent Street Polytechnic when they met and formed the band.

A new exhibition opened up at the Victoria and Albert Museum called the Pink Floyd Exhibition which gives insight into the life and legacy of the iconic rock band.

On July 15, I had the chance to step back in time and explore the life of the band who changed the musical landscape and are still influential to this day.

For someone who was not around yet to see the band come to life I did not know a lot about the history of the band before I entered the exhibition. The only reason I chose to view the exhibition is because I was curious as to why the band is so popular here in London and I remember my father listening to the band a lot when I was younger.

Not only did I arrive at 9:15 in the morning on a cloudy day, but I browsed the exhibition for roughly three and a half hours. It was inspiring, emotionally impactful, and eye-opening to see how the band moves people.

When I walked into the first room of the exhibition I was expecting to browse through it in about 20 minutes. I couldn’t help but read each description and listen to everything on my multimedia guide as part of the sound experience.

In the very beginning, the exhibition shows a letter from Roger “Syd” Barrett to girlfriend Jenny Spires which automatically made me want to keep on learning more about the band. In a description under the text of the letter it states, “Before they became Pink Floyd in 1965, the band were known as the Tea Set…”. After reading this description I had a few questions that I had hoped would be answered during my time at the exhibition. How did the band become Pink Floyd and how did they have such an impact on London and the rest of the world?

The exhibition seems to emphasize how eclectic, creative, and hands on the band truly were. It was extremely interesting to read all of the descriptions about their uniqueness in music. In a description labeled ‘Down the Rabbit Hole’ Nick Jones, Melody Maker states, “Last Friday the Pink Floyd, a new London group, embarked upon their first ‘happening’ – a pop dance incorporating psychedelic effects and mixed media- whatever that is!” It was clever how the exhibition incorporates psychedelic effects into it. It truly added to the immersive part of the experience and made me feel what it might have been like to have grown up during the performances of the band.

What seemed to be all of the bands equipment was displayed there which almost made me feel like the band was there. There was even a room labeled backstage which made me feel like I was going to walk in to meet the band. As an aspiring journalist, I can’t even imagine how exciting that would be to have interviewed them backstage after one of their concerts.

Almost every room featured an album from “The Wall” to “The Division Bell” to “The Dark Side of the Moon” and went into depth covering every detail, what inspired the band to write that song, and how the album became so popular. In the room displaying “The Dark Side of the Moon” there was a newspaper cover with the headline ‘Man Walks on the Moon’ July 21, AD 1969 3:56 AM’ which again made me feel like I was in the late 60’s for a moment of time. In another room, there was an interactive mixing desk where you could mix your own version of ‘Money’ from “The Dark Side of the Moon” while the audio guide played the song ‘Money’. It was absolutely amazing how the audio guide could detect where in the exhibition I was without ever having to press a button. It seemed to have gone along with the theme of how Pink Floyd was the first band to incorporate technology into their music.

Not only did I notice that they were technologically advance, but they were also incredibly c when it came to creating their album covers and music videos. In one of the room displayed it showed how they used a large inflatable pig for one of their videos.

The Pink Floyd exhibition is a must see whether you’re a fan of their music or not. It is moving, creative, and gives some insights and history about London without going to an actual history museum.

Friday night is alright for laughing

By: Ashley Barrow

If you’re looking to fall out of your chair laughing then a comedy club on a Friday night is the place for you. You know what they say: if it’s free it’s for me and unlike many of the comedy clubs around London, this one is often free of charge. Jack Whitehall said on the club’s website, “Top Secret is one of London’s best comedy clubs, it won’t be secret for long!”

There will be many acts on Friday July 28, including Dylan Gott Preview Show and Friday Stand Up Comedy. The atmosphere is lighthearted and fun, every seat will be filled so make sure you arrive early.

Dylan Gott is on stage at 7pm to perform his preview show. Following Gott at 8pm will be the Friday Stand Up Comedy which includes comedians Paddy Lennox, Ria Lina, Allyson smith, and Luke Heggie. Keep in mind that this specific performance does cost £12 and £8 at the door.

 

Visitors to Houses of Parliament Face Three Years of Chaos

By: Ashley Barrow

This is the news article that another student and I worked on during the live news day.

The Houses of Parliament is an attraction most tourists will have on their bucket lists when visiting London.

So it’s disappointing to find scaffolding and construction on the inside and outside of the building. Our tour guide, Jakob, says “the restoration and renewal process is going to take a minimum of three years to complete along with around £3.5 – £5.7bn of tax payer money to aid the process.”

Jakob also mentioned that the main part of the renewal process is to fix the plumbing and the infrastructure due to the old age of the building of more than 200 years old.

Statues of war heroes like Winston Churchill and paintings of figureheads including Queen Elizabeth or King George II are still on display serving as a memory of the great impact they had during their time in power.

The history behind the statues, paintings, and extravagant decor is worthwhile to see and if you are visiting London, buy a ticket to tour Parliament. Don’t let the construction scare you away.

According to parliament.uk, a major refurbishment of the Palace of Westminster is needed to protect and preserve its heritage and ensure it can continue to serve as home to the UK Parliament in the 21st century and beyond.

As stated in the morning edition of The Heard , the construction could cost years to achieve. The reconstruction process that the Palace is going through has an impact on tourists wanting to view other parts of Parliament including Elizabeth’s Tower. People may be unhappy with the construction, but renovations are necessary to keep buildings up-to-date and safe.