Following last issue’s controversy, Naomi Pacific discusses student drinking, whilst Ellie Taylor-Roberts argues Original Sin’s case
Naomi Pacific
Let’s face it, alcohol is fun. The night starts out very young. You’re at the breakfast table, “we are getting smashed tonight!” your friend says, and it sounds like a superb idea. It probably is a really good idea at that. Ring of Fire, ‘Never Have I Ever’, and Paranoia; there are plenty of games to choose from if you want to go with that version of getting hammered. And I guess the most appealing thing about drinking, at least for me, is that you’re more confident, you can walk into a party and talk to anyone! You’re the superman of social life… You don’t even have to think about saying things you would never say in real life. But there’s a catch to it. Alcohol is fun, but I think the biggest misconception is that we find ourselves thinking that the only way to have fun is to drink alcohol. Being a heavy weight, I’ve been obliged to experience club nights out while I was completely sober, and it’s different, but I would never go to say that it can’t be fun. Some nights can be amazing without alcohol, and that’s something to remember, I think. You can still let loose, go wild, and make fun of all the drunken people while being sober. I have this friend who went to a music festival this summer; no alcohol allowed. The videos he showed me were insane; people dancing away like party beasts, someone randomly deciding to saw up a tree and attempt bringing it to the dance floor… We’ve become so convinced that alcohol is the only way to go, we’ve forgotten it’s not. I’m going to repeat this; I don’t have anything against alcohol. Since coming to university I’ve by far had more nights with it than not. As an experience, it’s fun, it’s something everyone can enjoy, but perhaps it should be just like playing basketball, painting, or cooking, an occasional hobby you do rather than a remedy. So if you don’t feel like drinking, don’t feel the urge to, and go out anyways. If you’re grabbing that bottle of wine because you’ve had a cranky day and want a mood booster, put it down. Drink alcohol because you want to be foolishly funny tonight and like the idea of silliness. Drink alcohol because it’s nice, not because you have no other option.
Ellie Taylor-Roberts
Original Sin is portraying the fun and ‘free-spirited’ atmosphere which clubbing creates. It’s using avant-garde yet entertaining images to promote the nights out they organise. Some may argue that these photographs are “sexist because it always shows the boy in the power role and the woman being objectified”, portraying the theme of female degradation, however Original Sin is simply representing the extremes of today’s clubbing. They shouldn’t be penalised for demonstrating the way society acts in present day. If anything, we should be questioning why this shocking behaviour is ‘the norm’ for the youth of today. The majority of people accept these images and regard them as being “light-hearted”, however, years ago the advertising of these images would have elevated the shock factor to extreme levels. There’s no use putting the blame on Original Sin, who in their own right are publicising the entertaining events they work so hard to create. Instead, one should focus their attention on the question: How have these scandalous images become popular as opposed to unendurable?
One should reassess today’s youth’s approach to the clubbing world as opposed to inculpating Original Sin who simply conforms to the 21st century partying style.
exeposedev 