The College Chronicle: Writing From Afar 1 The Editorial A few members of the Sixth Form, in an attempt to provide some continuity in these uncertain times, have decided to come together and, from afar, write a lockdown edition of the College Chronicle. Our aim with this is to provide a focus on new and interesting topics that, hopefully, might act as a distraction from the problems of the world. Writing for the Sixth Form Newsletter has been very much missed by those Year 13s among us who surrendered our activities sessions in the Lent term for extra A Level revision periods, however we now find ourselves displaced from our usual meeting place of the library, and instead have had to work to put this together solely on the “COVID-19 Newsletter gang” group chat. This edition features an abundance of recommendations for entertaining yourselves in this unique time of confinement. If you are tired of watching the news all day, Laila's whimsical Sitcom Selector will let you find a new TV show to binge watch, with so many suggestions for every situation that you’ll be left spoilt for choice. Reading is another great way of passing the time, and Amelia's new series, Isolation Bookshelf, will provide you with interesting analysis on a range of books, some that may well end up being your next read! Matty, making his College Chronicle debut, puts a coronavirus-themed spin on the classic Desert Island Discs in his Lockdown Listening, sharing with us the albums, TV series, film, book and luxury item he would take into lockdown, as well as interviewing others. Hopefully this might give you suggestions on new music to listen to, books to read and TV and films to watch. Shoutout to Mr Barnicoat for his contributions to this article. If you are looking for a quick read, our resident storyteller, Mia, is back with her new short story, Blue. Set in a village in which men dominate women, they make cruel spectacles out of their deaths… or do they? This intense visceral piece will keep you gripped! Eve, unsurprisingly, expresses her discontent with the government as she writes about the British reluctance to return the Parthenon marbles to Greece. This is really just a justification for her taking a map of the British Museum on the Classics trip without giving the suggested £1 donation. Jack gives us an exclusive inside view into how he approaches his days in lockdown in his article, A Day In The Life Inside The Home. This is an article we know will be thoroughly enjoyed by Jack’s fanbase. Jack also makes an appearance, amongst many others, in our virtual student art gallery which will give you an insight into how some of the students have been creative in the last few weeks. We hope that the light-hearted tone of this publication does not come across as inappropriate considering the severity of the current situation. Our intentions are that this will act as a distraction for those who need it and a way that students can express creativity. We hope you and your loved ones are safe at this unprecedented time. We would also like to 2 extend our thanks to Miss Nixon who has helped us to deliver this publication to you in these times, and to all those who have written articles and made this possible. We hope you enjoy reading and wash your hands! Eve and Amelia 3 Laila’s Sitcom Selector Laila I watch a lot of television, and now, you can too! Pick your Lockdown Mood to find your next comedy box set.(ps. please check the age guidance before you start watching) :) I need something to watch with my family so that we don’t have to talk to each other: Modern Family (Amazon Prime Video), Friday Night Dinner (All 4/Netflix), Parks and Recreation (Amazon Prime Video), Miranda (BBC iPlayer/Netflix) I miss school (unlikely): Derry Girls (All 4/Netflix), The Inbetweeners (All 4), Bad Education (Netflix) I miss my job (even more unlikely): The Job Lot (Netflix), The Office US (Amazon Prime Video), W1A (BBC iPlayer), Twenty Twelve (BBC iPlayer), Borderline (Netflix), Campus (All 4),Damned (All 4), This Time with Alan Partridge (BBC iPlayer), The Thick of It (BBC iPlayer/Netflix) I need a slow-burn love story to warm my cold heart: Green Wing (All 4/Netflix), Miranda (BBC iPlayer/Netflix), The Office UK (Netflix), GameFace (All 4), Lovesick (Netflix), New Girl (Amazon Prime VIdeo), Parks and Recreation (Amazon Prime Video), Gavin and Stacey (BBC iPlayer/Netflix) Homeschooling isn’t going very well: Outnumbered (BBC iPlayer/Netflix), Motherland, Hang Ups (All 4) I need some excitement in my life (other than going to Tesco): The Wrong Mans (BBC iPlayer), No Offence (All 4), Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Netflix/All 4), Medical Police (Netflix) I need to escape to a slightly stranger planet: Toast of London (All 4/Netflix), Campus (All 4), House of Fools, The IT Crowd (All 4/Netflix), Green Wing (All 4), Bojack Horseman (Netflix) I miss (the stupidity of) my friends: Fresh Meat (All 4/Netflix), Crashing (All 4), Drifters (All 4), Peep Show (All 4/Netflix), Josh (BBC iPlayer/Netflix/UKTV Play), This Country (BBC iPlayer),New Girl (Amazon Prime Video), Motherland I’m having an existential crisis: This Way Up (All 4), Man Down (All 4), GameFace (All 4), Fleabag (BBC iPlayer/Amazon Prime Video), Shrill (BBC iPlayer), I’m Alan Partridge (Netflix) My family is already annoying me and it’s only been three weeks: Arrested Development (Netflix), Meet the Richardsons (UKTV Play), Friday Night Dinner (All 4/Netflix), Outnumbered(BBC iPlayer/Netflix), Flowers (All 4/Netflix) 4 Isolation Bookshelf: The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins Amelia In this lockdown period I intend to read all the books that I have been casting aside for revision. So, I thought I'd introduce you guys to some of my favourites in this series I'd like to call… Isolation Bookshelf! First up is The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins. 'A man writes to separate himself from the common history; a woman writes to try to join it.' The Gothic novel begins in 1826 at The Old Bailey, where the protagonist Frannie Langton is being tried for a murder she cannot remember. The book is structured following the confession of Frannie in the first person but is dispersed with transcripts from the trial. She began her life as a slave in Paradise, a Jamaican plantation run by Mr Langton who is desperate to prove that Africans are not human. He engages in horrific experiments and forces Frannie to be his lab assistant. He eventually takes her to England and offers her to Mr Benham, despite being technically free under English law. When she meets his wife, Madame, they begin a twisted love affair in response to the constraint’s society puts on both. Yet her affections toward Frannie divert and jealousy fuels their relationship. Then, the Benham's are murdered. The story is full of literary influences which make interesting parallels as Collins reinvents the best of the old Gothic. Frannie has been compared to Jane Eyre as they are both awkward and pretentious in their cleverness because they have never been allowed to exercise it properly. Whilst Mary Shelley's Frankenstein inspired the idea of the man being revisited by the consequences of their horrific experiments. Collin's also writes about the roots of scientific racism and the perpetual question of where science and ethics meet. The narrative perspective of a black enslaved woman shows why it is important to write and not forget, which echoes Toni Morrison's writing. Frannie talks about the books she has read allowing her a place to retreat from the difficulties of her own life, specifically intertextual references to Paradise Lost. But this knowledge is also used to control her. The book transcends boundaries of the Gothic but also links back to its origins. It confronts us to the part played by pseudoscience to fuel the pro-slavery agenda of the English ruling class in the 19th century. There is a sensuality in the writing which makes the voice of Frannie visceral. I found that I did not want to rush to finish it as Collin's way with words draws you in and the pace of the novel. If you are a fan of the crime genre, the Gothic and historical fiction, this is worth a read! As well as those studying A-Level English Literature and want to read around the Gothic genre. 5 Also, the cover design is beautiful. 6 Blue Mia They drag her by her underarms over to the water’s edge. She kicks and she screams, claiming her innocence. But they don’t listen. They just keep dragging her across the muddy floor. The mountains watch from behind them, surrounded by water. They stand tall and wise overhead. The lake stands still and large, waiting patiently to deprive someone of their oxygen, to torture their lungs and to let them drown. The sky is block grey. The sun has disappeared, and she doesn’t think that she will ever see it again. The rainfall from the night before has left puddles lying everywhere and her bare feet glide through them as they pull her across the floor. She looks up at the two men carrying her in hope that she can stop them, can convince them to set her free. The one on her left is short, the man on her right has to lean down to help him carry her.