Recommendations from team SU...

Can you believe we’re at week 7 of the lockdown? No, us neither, but it’s important to keep staying indoors to keep everyone safe. If you’ve been a bit bored, don’t worry - we collected some entertainment suggestions from the SU Team for you to enjoy.

Aleks (Kensington)

Blindboy Undestroys the World, BBC iPlayer 

One half of the Irish comedy and art duet Rubberbandits, Blindboy Boatclub uses his BBC series to investigate the challenges of the modern world, from the housing crisis to mental health. Although his musings are unabashedly weird and deliberately surreal - at one point linking Kim Kardashian to the ideological state apparatus and Sigmund Freud’s nephew - they are delivered with a surprising amount of warmth for someone who dons a plastic bag on their head. Watch if you’re in the mood for something informative but entertaining. 

Ghibli Studio 25th Anniversary Concert 

If you’re already familiar with Studio Ghibli, their musical scores won’t need an introduction. If you’re not a fan of Princess Mononoke or Spirited Away (yet), this concert is wonderful no matter how many times you’ve heard it. I listen to it during my mandated outdoor exercise - the Taiko drums take a run around the park to another level. 

Gabi (Battersea)

TRANSMISSIONS

Streaming live every Thursday at 9pm on twitch, TRANSMISSIONS is a DIY TV show brought to us by the grace of Anne Duffau, Tai Shani, and Hana Noorali to help us all endure our collective isolation.

Megan Thee Stallion: NPR Tiny Desk Concert

Our girl Meg’s first performance with a band and it is what? SICKENING! Currently gets at least one airing a day in my flat. ?????????? Get on it. 

Lucy (White City)

School of Life, YouTube

Nothing is more reassuring to me than the wonderful sound of Alain de Botton’s voice accompanied by illuminating animations. School of Life has short videos on topics ranging from philosophy, to love, to political theory. They capture the essence of the human condition in a really profound and easy to digest way. I’d love to say I’ve been spending my time wisely watching the ‘How to start a business’ video, but after six weeks of lock down on my own I’ve been stacking up the view counts on ‘the importance of dancing like an idiot’ video. 

The National Poetry Library

The National Poetry Library has part of their collection available online. Audre Lorde writes about the importance of poetry arguing; “Poetry is not a luxury. It is a vital necessity of our existence. It forms the quality of the light within which we predicate our hopes and dreams towards survival and change, first made into language, then into idea, then into tangible action.”

Hailmo (Diversity Support)

Normal People

Like much of the nation, I spent week 6 of lockdown watching Normal People, the BBC’s adaptation of Sally Rooney’s acclaimed novel. The story focuses on two young protagonists, Connell and Marriane and the growing pains associated with love and mental health, amongst other things. It’s beautifully shot and emotionally vulnerable. It’s also far too easy to binge watch. You’ll miss it once it’s over. 

NTS Remote Utopias

NTS recently put on a virtual festival. It featured artists such as Omar-S, Erykah Badu and Jorja Smith. You can listen back here! It’s ambient, uplifting and makes for fun but easy listening. 

Alex (Events) 

MUBI

All students have free access to Mubi and it’s great! Films are available for 30 days so I'm just going to recommend the whole platform ;) ... You'll find cult, classic, and independent films... and a bit of pressure to watch them soon. In the last six weeks I've enjoyed, films by Kleber Mendonça Filho and I'm looking forward to watching Céline Sciamma's films.

Limbo by Dan Fox

A new thing for me... audio books. Hearing a voice without the news has been delightful (and I seem to fall asleep everytime I pick up a physical book). Limbo is free online and not too long: 'In a world that demands faith in progress and growth, Limbo is a companion for the stuck, the isolated, delayed, stranded and those in the dark...'

Take care and speak soon! Let us know if you want to discuss anything!