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Palatinate •

Representation in 2023: #OscarsSoWhite was a start, but not the remedy.

In March 2023, I sat down (virtually) with Jamaican Rastafarian journalist and filmmaker Barbara Blake-Hannah to discuss her career, and the changes she saw throughout her time in the industry (read the full interview here). There have been some significant shifts since the 1970s, yet one thing that stood out was Hannah’s call for diversity in film to mean everyone, aiming to represent all those whose tales remain untold such as of the Maroons and Chinese Jamaicans.
Palatinate •

Barbara Blake-Hannah: filmmaking, barrier-breaking, and Jamaica on-screen (full interview transcript)

Barbara Makeda Blake-Hannah is a Jamaican filmmaker, cultural consultant, journalist, author, and the first Black female reporter on British television in 1968. She returned to Jamaica in 1972 and is a figurehead for promoting Rastafarian culture and history. Having introduced ourselves in (virtual) person and managed to navigate the time-zone situation, we quickly began the interview.
Per Capita Media •

We need to address “plummeting political news coverage of the Caribbean”: The Guyana-Venezuela Talks

When Britain or the United States are not in the immediate picture, the chances of consistent political news coverage in the Caribbean here plummet.
With a population of just over 104 000, it is rare for my mother’s home country – St Vincent and the Grenadines – to be at the heart of a major geopolitical issue. But, when I discovered that St Vincent and the Grenadines was in the centre of the ongoing Guyana-Venezuela conflict over the long-disputed Essequibo in December 2023, I was initially surprised and then concerned.
The Oxford Student •

Libertié, Égalité … Brutalité: Review of Netflix’s Castlevania: Nocturne –

On the 28th of September, the eight-episode series Castlevania: Nocturne, the sequel to Castlevania (2017-2021) directed by duo Adam and Sam Deats debuted on Netflix. It was much anticipated by both viewers of the previous Netflix series, including myself along with devotees to the video games which appeared on numerous consoles from 1986 to 2021. With season 2 confirmed a few weeks ago, Nocturne seems to be setting itself up for something much more different and fluid than its predecessor.
HISTORY IN POLITICS •

The Double-Edged Cutlass of the Grenada Revolution

Cuba was not the only Caribbean nation to experience a revolution and adopt communist ideologies in the twentieth century. The February Revolution of 1970 in southern neighbour Trinidad and Tobago proved the desire of many young Caribbeans to demolish colonial institutions and Euro-American capitalist power systems. It was Grenada’s revolution from 1979-1983, however, that truly captured the attention of the world, especially the United States.
HISTORY IN POLITICS •

Our Own COINTELPRO: The Black Britons under surveillance by the Black Power Desk

On the 8th of March 1971, a small group from the Citizens’ Commission to Investigate the FBI – an American political organisation – raided the FBI’s office in Media, Pennsylvania. During the raid, they burgled over 1,000 documents about Operation COINTELPRO. COINTELPRO was a series of illegal and covert projects conducted by the FBI against American citizens after 1955, on the grounds that those civilians were seen as “politically subversive”.
Palatinate •

Behind the lens with Callum Robson

County Durham undoubtedly has its fair share of some of the most picturesque spots in England. As seen on Instagram, Durham City appears somewhat irresistible to cameras. Taking mostly photographs of people, Interview spoke to Callum Robson [pictured below], a street photographer and TEFL teacher originally from nearby Merton, and now residing in Oviedo, Spain about his street photography experiences in cities across the North East and, North and Central Spain.

“I remember being interested in p
Palatinate •

Capturing Durham on camera

As Epiphany term returns to the Durham circle of life and online lectures, over the holidays, Interview caught up with some of the student body's vloggers and internet personalities to discuss how they depict uni life in their videos and whether content creation for them is second nature.

Tom Daniel [first on the left], 1st Year (@t0mdaniel – TikTok): “At first, I thought like a lot of people that TikTok was cringy, but when lockdown set in and all my mates were uploading videos I thought that
Palatinate •

Voices of the South College protest

On Wednesday 8th December 2021, Durham University captured the attention of local and national media outlets with a protest at South College, attended by over 300 students, in reaction to events the previous Friday. Indigo spoke to some of the individuals who organised, spoke at, and attended the protest to discuss their motivations behind it and the messages they shared both on and beyond the placards.

Xiv Hathaway, placard-maker and organiser: “I was at both sign-making meetings and I remembe
Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels
Palatinate •

I’m dreaming of a classic Christmas meal

Having had a strong aversion to brussels sprouts as a child, one year my mum appeared to crack the code using one simple trick: adding chestnuts. So maybe this Christmas, the following recipe could help those afraid of the small green vegetable.

– Pierce the chestnut shells before putting them in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius for around 10-15 minutes.

– Remove them from the oven and let them cool, then remove the shells.

– For the brussels sprouts, boil them until soft and in a separate pan
Palatinate •

Making Heartbreak at Home: Daisy Harris

Alongside her studies in Drama at the University of Manchester, Daisy Harris has lovingly and long been involved in song-writing, instrumentalism, and producing music at home since her early teenage years growing up in Scotland. In an online conversation with Interview, Harris reflects on her love for music, sources of inspiration, and her latest song, ‘A24’ which dwells on memory and heartbreak in the story of arduous early relationships.

“I make music from a variety of genres, but I would say
Palatinate •

Durham ACS and Black History Month

Durham University’s African Caribbean Society was founded in 2015 by first-year students who wished to provide a welcoming space for students to celebrate African and Caribbean culture. Six years on, let us turn to the group’s current President Hashr (Ashley) Buwembo [first left in the photo], a second-year International Relations student from Hatfield, as she discusses Durham ACS and what Black History Month means to her and the society.
Palatinate •

The fate of traditional TV is up to the over 55s

It is no surprise to anyone that streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime are seemingly becoming more popular across all age groups. The lockdowns and periods of self-isolation have meant that many of us have needed to hunker down at home multiple times, especially during the recent “Pingdemic”.

According to a recent YouGov poll, Netflix was voted the most popular platform for TV viewing amongst all adults in 2021. However, it is common knowledge that those over 55 years old watch mo
Palatinate •

Actor spotlight: Hiroyuki Sanada

Hiroyuki Sanada is possibly one of the most dedicated actors of recent years and it is about time that we give him the credit he deserves. Since his acting debut in the 1965 Japanese crime drama, Game of Chance, and the discovery of his natural talent for martial arts aged twelve by action star Sonny Chiba, Sanada has never stopped pushing the limits of his own potential.

Spurred on by his newfound fame in Japan for being the clan fighter Nayate in the 1978 Yagyu Clan Conspiracy, the first half