thecatsouthebag: 2014

Little Bites of History

10:13:00

10 Ways To Procrastinate Rather Than Revise For History Exams

07:13:00

History is a heavy subject. It requires a lot of work to get the top marks and grades. But there's always time to procrastinate right? Here's my top tips of what (not) to do whilst studying...

Always spend at least an hour looking up useful revision notes on the internet! And then never use them...ever...

Never start revising on an empty stomach, make sure you've had at least one main meal before you start! Don't forget to consume at least 5 bags of Haribo whilst revising. Think of all that energy!

Make sure the conditions around you are perfect. Is the sun a fraction to bright? Fiddle with the curtains for half an hour. Are you pens not quite the right colours? Spend an hour hunting in your room for some different ones!

As you're in a position to study, now spend two hours writing out timelines. WAIT! What dya mean you didn't colour code appropriately? Well, you're going to have to do it again.

After feeling like you've earn't a well earned break, allow yourself twenty minutes of social media time.

Check the clock an hour later...

Read a history magazine/blog whilst convincing yourself that it's revision. Well surely background reading on the First World War is sure to help when writing an essay about the French Revolution?

Can't find that one sheet about Russia that you need? Spend thirty minutes looking for it, then realising it was in your folder all along!

Checks out 10 history books from the library for background reading - has two weeks off from school. Only starts reading them two days before school starts again...

Look happily at the amount of time you are studying. France 1789-1830. Surely you can learn all those dates in a month right?

Write a blog post about how to procrastinate!!

Those statements are just a few of the things that I have encountered these last few years, and although we can all laugh at them it's important to remember that studying does need to be done, regardless of how hard it may be!
I hope everyone who has exams and is reading this right now are feeling positive! GOOD LUCK!!

end of an era

All That Remains is Five Days, But I've Got Seven Years Worth of Memories

09:11:00

Education Education Education and ... A Homage to British History - Kaiser Chiefs

13:31:00

Okay, so its only April, but I truly believe that I have heard the best album of 2014. On March 31st The Kaiser Chiefs released their new album entitled Education, Education, Education and War, to much critical and public acclaim. Yet whilst the album can simply be appreciated as a great British Rock album, Wilson and Co. have created something much more lyrically compelling and beautiful than first expected.

Education, Education, Education and War cleverly documents the highs and lows of British history since the First World War. It took me a long time to work that out, but the album is littered with clues, which need to be carefully pieced together.

The album booklet's back cover contains the phrase "original souvenir centenary commemorative package", which when coupled with the military equipment and soldiers throughout the booklet, can only suggest that the album draws some of its inspiration from the First World War. The lead single "Coming Home" also stems from this period in history, seeming to portray the end of the soldier's return home in 1918.

The exploitation of the working class under capitalism is also alluded to on the first track of the album "The Factory Gates", whilst "Ruffians on Parade", "Cannons", and "Bows and Arrows" also have obvious military connections. Ricky Wilson, Kaiser Chief front man and recent judge on The Voice UK, even went as far as writing a poem entitled The Occupation, documenting all the above plus the worlds search for ways too keep human civilization alive, after years of war, capitalism and politics have begun to run the Earth dry. And if this wasn't enough of an argument, who can ignore the album title Education, Education, Education and War, which can only be a reference to British Prime Minister Tony Blair's famous parliamentary speech and controversial decisions regarding the Iraq war.

Maybe this has opened your eyes somewhat to the inner workings of such a great album. I would like to stress however, that these are only my assumptions and interpretations - I could quite possibly be barking up the completely wrong tree. But if everyone had the same interpretation of everything, what sort of world would we live in? Do you agree with me? Do you have some other ideas? Please let me know in the comments below!!

Bethany x

It Was The Best Of Days, The Most Magical Of Days

13:42:00

Forgetting Paris' Heritage

13:15:00

Whilst the French Revolution occurred over 200 years ago (1789-92) ,too many landmarks remain for Paris to claim that it is a brand new city. Yet whilst these homages to an iconic and somewhat uncertain turning point in history are on display for everyone to see, it is questionable whether both residents and holiday makers really appreciate their significance.

October 2013 saw myself and a group of friends head off to Paris on an eventful school residential. As historians, artists, and linguists it is safe to say that although we were all looking forward to soaking up the typical sophisticated Parisian atmosphere, we were also keen to explore the heritage and overwhelming significance of the city. Our four days were spent hopping from metro station to metro station, exploring places of historical importance such as the Arch du Triomphe, Napoleon's Tomb and Palace of Versailles (to name but a few!)

The Champs du Mars, taken from the Eiffel Tower

The integration between the past and the present Paris really fascinated me to the extent that it has taken me this long to fathom what I saw and to be able to put it into words. Whilst walking along the Champs du Mars, directly opposite the Eiffel Tower, it occurred to me that I was walking in the same place in which hundreds of radical Parisians were massacred by the monarchy for daring to sign a petition asking for a constitutional monarchy. Yet at the same time that I was pondering why on earth I was allowed to walk across such important ground, at least a hundred people were standing by the grass taking selfies and eating crepes. On another occasion, whilst standing by the wall of a church which had visible bullet holes from the weapons of the revolutionary armies, so many people were walking past with Chanel and other designer handbags. In the light of this, is it really reasonable to argue that Paris is the city of history that it has claimed to be?

Well, it certainly cannot be ignored that these monuments exist, and no one can argue that the French Revolution and the era of Napoleon never happened - we can see that with our own eyes. Perhaps what has changed is the relative importance of such heritage. Everyday citizens within Paris are as accustomed to the Eiffel Tower and Louvre as Londoners are to the House of Parliament and the Tower of London. Understandably, when you live somewhere that is so culturally rich, it must be hard to fully appreciate it as you've been exposed to it your whole life. But perhaps the advent of social media and a growing online community has meant that people do not need to go abroad to experience history for themselves. Why travel to Paris to see the Arch du Triomphe when you can watch someone else's trip on YouTube? The time that would have been wasted whilst appreciating history can be spent shopping for macaroons and I love Paris t-shirts!

I will never forget my trip to Paris - both the history and the
company were incredible.

History needs to be seen up close and personal to be truly appreciated and believed. Whilst a day trip around Paris is indeed fun however it is spent, I cannot champion enough the importance of spending time uncovering the city's heritage for yourself - it's too important to forget.