Author: Skye Collacott Williamson

Marvel, Star Wars, and Jurassic Park: Do We Need Remakes and Sequels?

Skye Collacott WilliamsonLeave a comment

First Published via HUB Magazine when I was Culture Editor.

Date Published: 25th November 2022.

The latest possibility of remakes has been indulged by Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness where we are introduced to the similar face of Professor X (Patrick Stewart) and a different Reed Richards (John Krasinski) originally played by Ioan Gruffudd in the 2005’s Fantastic Four. The newest instalment of Fantastic Four will kick off Phase 6 in 2025, however, not starring John Krasinski. It really begs the question: do we really need more remakes? 

The perfect examples of why remakes and sequels do not always hit the mark are the Star Wars Sequels. I personally love the prequels more than the originals and I would classify Rogue One as a good example of recreating and continuing films for a new generation. The official sequels, however, seem to fall hard. How I see the Star Wars sequels is how I see the third Tobey Mcguire Spider-Man film. The third Spider-Man film is not THAT bad. However, if you watch the Spider-Man films in order, it looks terrible in comparison. The other Spider-Man films excel in acting, writing and fully developed characters. I believe this is the same for the sequels of Star Wars. I think the sequels by themselves are categorically good films. However, when you watch them as part of the entire franchise? It is bad. Personally, I will always say Revenge of the Sith is the best Star Wars film, however, Empire Strikes Back is one of the best films of all time. 

The Amazing Spider-Man is my all-time favourite Spider-Man film. I really think Andrew Garfield should be given another chance (and no that’s not just because he’s hot). I understand that the beginning story of Spider-Man is so well known that they did not bother with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, but I love the origin story. Tom Holland brings a childhood innocence to the role that Tobey and Andrew lacked. Though Andrew Garfield is objectively the best actor of the three, I absolutely love his cocky, intelligent Spider-Man. The Amazing Spider-Man also presents my favourite love interest, Gwen Stacey played by Emma Stone. As a child I wanted to be Gwen so badly; she was smart, decisive and magnificent. The difference between Tobey/ Andrew’s Spider-Man and Tom’s is simple, theirs feels like a Spider-Man film while Tom’s feels like a Marvel film. I think Tom Holland is a good actor, who has plenty of room for growth. The third film clearly shows his increasing skill. However, Marvel seems to present Spider-Man as a side film for mainstream Marvel Characters and A-List actors whether that is Robert Downey Jr, Jake Gyllenhaal or Benedict Cumberbatch.  

I think X-Men present the perfect example of knowing when to stop. Unfortunately, each film gets worse and worse. Nonetheless, I go see it in the cinema each time. I am excited to see X-Men in the MCU, however, some actors are not replaceable. James McAvoy is one of my favourite actors to watch and it would be a waste of talent to not recast him for the MCU.   

On the one hand, Jurassic World are decent sequels. On the other hand, once you have watched the latest instalment where they mix the originals with the remakes it all makes sense of what was missing. I am not a big fan of Chris Pratt’s work; at his core, I truly believe he is a personality actor and not a character actor. By that, I mean he is cast to play himself and not cast based on his acting abilities to play a variety of characters. Jurassic World is a reminder that nothing can beat the Original. I would label Jurassic Park as my fifth favourite film ever. I do not think it is possible to recreate the wonder and magic of watching Jurassic Park for the first time.  

The question remains: should the film industry continue with remakes and sequels? The answer is simple. If you are trying to recreate the original like Jurassic World and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, then it will most likely fail. You need to add something to grip people into the film. They have already seen the original. If I wanted to watch a good film, I’d watch the original, not the bad remake. A different approach is a multiverse approach in Spider-Man: No Way Home and Jurassic World Dominion. It allows for all generations to watch a film and it creates a different plot line than the originals and you can build/develop characters.  

References-  

Abrams, J.J. Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Lucasfilm, 2015.  

Edwards, Gareth. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Lucasfilm, 2016.  

Kershner, Irvin. The Empire Strikes Back. Lucasfilm, 1980.  

Lucas, George. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. Lucasfilm, 2005.  

Raimi, Sam. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Marvel Studios, 2022.  

Raimi, Sam. Spider-Man. Sony Pictures, 2002.  

Raimi, Sam. Spider-Man 2. Sony Pictures, 2004.  

Raimi, Sam. Spider-Man 3. Sony Pictures, 2007.  

Shakman, Matt. Fantastic Four. Marvel Studios, 2025.  

Spielberg, Steven. Jurassic Park. Universal Pictures, 1993.  

Story, Tim. Fantastic Four. Fox, 2005.  

Trevorrow, Colin. Jurassic World. Universal Pictures, 2015.  

Trevorrow, Colin. Jurassic World Dominion. Universal Pictures, 2022.  

Watts, Jon. Spider-Man: Homecoming. Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios, 2017.  

Watts, Jon. Spider-Man: Far From Home. Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios, 2019.  

Watts, Jon. Spider-Man: No Way Home. Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios, 2021.  

Webb, Marc. The Amazing Spider-Man. Sony Pictures, 2012.  

Webb, Marc. The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Sony Pictures, 2014.  

Vaughn, Matthew. X-Men: First Class. 20th Century Studios, 2011.  

ResearcHER: Understanding Sexism in Research Careers and Inspiring the Next Generation.

Skye Collacott WilliamsonLeave a comment

First Published via HUB Magazine when I was Culture Editor.

Date Published: 18th November 2022.

The ResearcHER is a book inspiring the next generation of women to join research careers, written in collaboration with the Women in Academia Support Network (WIASN).

Founded in 2017, WISAN now has over 12,000 members in over 100 countries. It is a trans-inclusive and intersectional network for women who have lived through misogyny in their academic roles.

The authors of the book, Dr Kelly Pickard-Smith, Dr Amy Bonsall and Professor Elenora Belfiore, have overcome academic struggles to get to where they are today.

As Dr Kelly Pickard-Smith writes, ‘the book intends to not only inspire but also appreciate women’s contributions… developing new solutions, ways of thinking and being’. The book is easy to read, with short chapters offering an insightful view of researchers and exciting activities to do at home. The book also provides fun facts to offer a window into the lives of the researchers.

The book reveals the hardships of sexism in the research community, where ‘more than half of PhDs awarded are to women’ and yet ‘are woefully underrepresented in senior roles (2).

The book examines the research of diverse women as well. Fatima A. Junaid started a safe group for ‘Pakistani women in Academia’ and researched the wellbeing of Pakistani women. As is written, ‘We will hear difficult stories, but those voices need to be heard and known (11). Sarah Mohammad-Quereshi wants the reader to question our privilege in everyday life, as it is essential to understand how identity affects other people in professional careers (48).

While most of the researchers are heterosexual, Maria Maclennan identifies as bisexual. She aims to ‘leave the ladder down to help support other young women to take up more space in these areas in the future (22). Not only is it important for young queer women to have opportunities in these research fields, but it is equally important for them to have role models. As Melissa Anne Beattie (aromantic asexual) says ‘I’m at least able to show my students and my colleagues someone who managed to get to the front of the classroom while also being ‘different’ (41).

Jasmine Hazel Shadrack, who identifies as bisexual and is a late-diagnosed autistic, uses her research to focus on different ways to work through being a survivor of domestic abuse. As she notes, ‘that methodology has saved me, on more than one occasion (55).

Jennifer Leigh is the Vice Chair of the International Women in Supramolecular Chemistry (WISC) which launched in 2019. It aims to bring a ‘social science and equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) perspective to work with scientists to address marginalisation’ (59).

As Jessica Mannion notes, ‘it does not matter what you look like, if you have a disability or where you are from, you can still work in academia (67). I genuinely believe this book is inspiring to young women, especially neurodivergent women, as it shows that you can overcome the struggles and discrimination faced as a minority.

Taylor Swift has Masterminded us all with her New ‘Midnights (3 AM Edition)’ Album.

Skye Collacott WilliamsonLeave a comment

First Published via HUB Magazine when I was Culture Editor.

Date Published: 11th November 2022.

It has been an ongoing joke that Taylor Swift never sleeps as her music references midnight or two am. In typical Swift brilliance, she has turned that motif into an album concept. We join Taylor Swift at Midnight, only to be chaotically surprised with her 3 AM edition album.  

Swift and Jack Antonoff have worked together ever since ‘Out of the Woods’ in the ‘1989’ album. He worked alongside Aaron Dessner to produce Swift’s surprise albums ‘Folklore’ and ‘Evermore’. Antonoff is a force to be reckoned within the producer industry, winning the Producer of the Year Grammy last year. He produces your favourite pop artists including Lana Del Rey, Lorde, and his own band the Bleachers.  

‘Midnights’ can be recognised as a joint collaboration between Jack Antonoff and Taylor Swift. This is not to place doubt on Taylor Swift’s ability. She has proven herself time and time again. Ever since she made a change to Republic Records, she has been working with her best friends, including Dylan O’Brien who plays the drums on the album. 

While ‘Evermore’ is my all-time favourite album, ‘Midnights’ comes at a close second. It was a pleasant surprise to see 3 AM edition including Aaron Dessner who produced the majority of ‘Evermore’ and her soundtrack song ‘Carolina’.  

‘Midnights’ also introduces Zoe Kravitz as a writer on Swift’s album, who also works with Jack Antonoff in her band ‘LOLAWOLF’.  ‘Lavender Haze’ is Swift’s magically return to mainstream pop instead of her alternative pop albums of ‘Folklore’ and ‘Evermore’.  

‘Anti-hero’ was the first music video of ‘Midnights’, self-directed by Swift. The video has ‘Alice in Wonderland’ references in the teatime section. Swift has previously referenced ‘Alice in Wonderland’ in her ‘1989’ bonus track ‘Wonderland’. Perhaps used to signify that Swift feels left out of the music industry. Her other personas are split into the girl next door imagery that surrounded her image between her debut album till her ‘1989’ album and the other persona between ‘Reputation’ and ‘Evermore’. All these personas are both Swift and not Swift at the same time. In her ‘Miss Americana’ documentary, she notes that female musicians have to reinvent themselves more than male musicians and find new shiny parts of themselves the public admires. 

‘Anti-hero (feat. Bleachers)’ is the long-awaited collaboration between Antonoff’s band ‘Bleachers’ and Taylor Swift. It is extremely different from most of Swift’s music, however, I kind of love the combination. Vaguely feels like how the Wallows would perform ‘Anti-hero’. Personally, I would choose to listen to this version rather than the original. Unless you are a Jack Antonoff fan you may be unaware of his writing and vocal abilities. Though Antonoff has been with Swift since her album ‘1989’ we have yet to hear his voice in her music till now. 

If you know anything about Swift it is that Track five is always the most painful, soul-crushing, and heart-wrenching song. ‘You’re On Your Own, Kid’ does not disappoint, the bridge is as beautiful as it is hurtful. The line that hurts me deeply is ‘your dreams aren’t rare’, it reflects our childhood innocence and the almost painful nativity in believing that we can do anything we want till we grow up and realise there are too many people who want our dreams. This song has the same climax feel as ‘The Archer’, except it has a relief of climate with the lines ‘you’re on your own kid/ you always have been’.  

‘Bejeweled’ is the second music video from Swift’s ‘Midnights’, once again self-directed. It stars her best friends including the HAIM sisters who have collaborated with Swift on ‘No Body No Crime’ on ‘Evermore’ and ‘Gasoline’. One of the many easter eggs in the music video may be the similarity between Antonoff playing the prince in ‘Bejeweled’ and in the Bleachers ‘Don’t take the money’ music video. This was clearly a hint for the Bleachers collaboration with Swift on her song ‘Anti-hero’. ‘Bejeweled’ takes the Cinderella fairy story applying it to Swift’s life. Notably, this music video takes place after the ‘Willow’ music video. The golden string has transformed into sick, implying she has moved on from the invisible string that led her to the woods with ‘Folklore’ and ‘Evermore’. The music video also stars Oscar winner Laura Dern as the evil stepmother. Zoe Kravitz also appears in a portrait behind the Queen. If ‘Lavender Haze’ and ‘Midnight Rain’ weren’t obvious enough, Swift once again rejects a proposal from a man (seen previously in the two thousand and nineteen ‘ME! Feat Brendon Urie’). 

‘Karma’ shook the Swift community when the title track was announced. Swift is truly a Mastermind. The track title can be seen twice in ‘The Man’ music video which was Swift’s directorial debut. During her promotion for ‘Red (Taylor’s Version)’ she hinted at leaving easter eggs three years in advance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. 

‘Glitch’ is one of the most satisfying songs on the album. It scratches part of my brain each time I hear it. Swift is known for her beautiful bridges throughout her musical career. However, this song contains the most sensual bridge of the entire album. It has the recognisable beat of Sam Dew, his only other co-written song on this album is ‘Lavender Haze’. Along with Swift and Antonoff, Sam Dew has made his mark on the pop music industry. I would argue both ‘Glitch’ and ‘Lavender Haze’ are the most likely to cause you to break into dance. 

‘Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve’ joins Swift’s collection of religious guilt songs. The painful bridge builds us up for one of Swift’s most rageful verses. It is almost as if you can hear the rage and pain infused in the lyrics and her voice: ‘Living for the thrill of hitting you where it hurts/ Give me back my girlhood/ It was mine first’. This lyric stands out as she extends ‘first’ to cut deeply. It reminds me of her high note in ‘Don’t Blame Me’ during the breakdown ‘using for the rest of my life’. It should be no surprise, co-written by Dessner and Swift, that this makes my top song of ‘Midnights (3 AM Edition)’.  

‘Dear Reader’ shares the same emotion as ‘Long Live’ from ‘Speak Now’. I can already see her on the piano, her last song of the evening on tour and remixing ‘Long Live’ and ‘Dear Reader’ together. Swift presents this song as the public figure of her is not real: ‘If you knew where I was walking/ To a house, not a home, all alone/ Cause nobody’s there’. This is one of Swift’s slowest songs on the album. It is beautifully enchanting and haunting.  

This album is full of pain, misery and angst covered up by pop sounds and beats which happens to be a Swift constant. Between ‘Forever Winter’ from ‘Red (Taylor’s version), almost the entire ‘Lover’ album and ‘Clean’ from the ‘1989’ album, Swift can create beautiful Pop songs with completely devasting lyrics. Swift has proven over and over that she is an incredible lyricist and poet, especially in ‘Folklore’ and ‘Evermore’. I do believe that ‘Midnights’ is one of Swift’s best albums, however, ‘Evermore’ remains my favourite. 

References- 

HAIM and Taylor Swift. Gasoline. Universal Music, 2021. 

Antonoff, Jack and Lorde. Don’t Take The Money. Sony Music, 2017. 

Swift, Taylor. 1989. Big Machine, 2014. 

Swift, Taylor. Carolina. Republic Records, 2022. 

Swift, Taylor. Evermore. Republic Records, 2020. 

Swift, Taylor. Folklore. Republic Records, 2020 

Swift, Taylor. Lover. Republic Records, 2019. 

Swift, Taylor. Midnights (3 AM Edition). Republic Records, 2022. 

Swift, Taylor. Red (Taylor’s Version). Republic Records, 2021. 

Swift, Taylor. Reputation. Big Machine, 2017.

Swift, Taylor. Speak Now. Big Machine, 2010. 

Wilson, Lana. Miss Americana. Tremolo Productions, 2020. 

Beauty and the Beast: Excelling in Theatre.

Skye Collacott WilliamsonLeave a comment

Photography by Skye Collacott Williamson.

First Published via HUB Magazine when I was Culture Editor.

Date Published: 28th October 2022.

Beauty and the Beast excels at all the dynamics and genres of theatre: comedic gold for the whole family, raw heart-wrenching emotions, and beautiful dancing.  

The costume design team has thoroughly outdone themselves with their production of Beauty and the Beast, I’m not even sure which outfit is my favourite. From the moment I saw Belle come onto the stage with her beautiful denim dress with little white flowers and that puffy long-sleeve shirt underneath, I knew the costumes would be beautiful; not only for the main characters but for the side characters even in dance sequences. A standout gown is Babette’s flapper-inspired pink dress matched with her pink hair. I cannot even express the amount of emotion I felt when Belle descended the stairs in her yellow dress, it quite possibly is the most beautiful dress I have ever seen. It brought me to tears.  

The stage is used to its full potential. In the forest scene, there are two screens used to create an intense atmosphere. A screen at the back creates the imagery of the forest and a see-through screen enhances the effects of the wolves hunting Belle’s father. During the performance of ‘Be Our Guest’, the use of the back screen shows a bird’s eye view of the stage’s floor as the dancers use the floor as part of a dance routine. It was very old school, combining both class and a sense of Las Vegas. The arch set design during ‘Be Our Guest’ was especially beautiful. There is a little hint of naughtiness from the entire cast as the dancers wear sparkling fishnets and have multiple layers of puffy material underneath their dresses.   

There is a moment in the theatre when you can truly feel the magic, as the atmosphere is emphasised by the music and set design. This beautiful moment was halfway through the play, when Belle reads the Beast ‘King Arthur’, finally promoting a sense of calm, familiarity and wonder. This is also helped by the set spinning around, possibly used to show the progression of time and/or the progression of their relationship. 

I was lucky enough to be sitting at the front, and was able to see the conductor instruct the orchestra. It is truly a sight to behold. I can’t even imagine how difficult it is and how much work is put into the orchestra for ‘Beauty and the Beast’.  

The level of excellence and precision required for the dance sequence during both ‘Gaston’ and ‘Be Our Guest’ is beyond incredible. Every single dancer was choreographed to the second. My favourite was during ‘Gaston’ when they use the beer mugs to create an action sequence and a dance. Perfectly timed with the instruments, it overflows with excitement, bringing a whole another level of life. ‘Be Our Guest’ reminds me of the Great Gatsby era as well as the scene in Captain America the First Avenger where Steve is dancing to cheer up the soldiers. It is flirty, fun, and adventurous. 

Courtney Stapleton who plays Belle gives the performance of a lifetime, especially during her solo when she decides to trade herself for her father. I was completely hypothesised by her performance. If there is something actors in theatres must have to engage audiences for a long period of time and to connect them to the production, she has it completely. 

Louis Stockil playing Le Fou is beyond comedic excellence, with every movement of his bringing another laughter to the audience. His comedic timing is beyond perfection, and he has a bigger-than-life stage presence than even Gaston. Though this should not discredit Tom Senior’s performance as Gaston, he especially delivers during his duo with Belle, arguing over the proposal. He truly acts the part of Gaston with his charm, wit and hyper-masculinity. 

All the cast have stand-out voices. The dynamic between Alyn Hawke playing Lumiere and Emma Caffrey playing Babette gives ease and lightness to the theatre. One question I want to have answered, is how Sam Baliey playing Mrs Potts has her hand up for so long. Baliey gave an extreme sense of realism to the theatre; she reminded the audience of the pain the Beast and the rest of the castle’s servants are in. Her companion, Samantha Bingley playing Madame, made the audience laugh.  

When Belle enters the west wing where she is forbidden to go, Shaq Taylor brings such raw emotion to his solo as the Beast. I felt a heartbreak that almost drove me to the point of tears. Taylor plays such a complex character with a combination of sweetness, comedy and menacing. He plays the Beast’s fine line between kind and danger perfectly. It is truly an accomplishment to his acting abilities to both draw compassion and hatred from an audience.   

Beauty and the Beast is playing at the Hippodrome Theatre in Bristol till 12 November 2022.

The Environmental Cost of The Fast Fashion Industry

Skye Collacott WilliamsonLeave a comment

First Published via HUB Magazine when I was Culture Editor.

Date Published: 18th October 2022.

Trends come into fashion as quickly as they leave. The only thing left behind is hordes of materials. Many have turned to fast fashion for cheaper alternatives as the cost-of-living crisis continues to sink its teeth into our wallets. We may not see the effect of fast fashion, but it comes at a high cost to those employed to make clothes; from the inhumane environments, they are forced to work into working for less than minimum wage. The fast fashion industry continues to prove it does not care about the wages given to a predominantly female workforce nor the environmental impact they create. It only cares about turning and increasing a profit.

As students, we can change our behaviour for the better. There are many things we can do, even if that is wearing old clothes and fixing them when needed. Another example is renting, which ‘WearMyWardrobeOut’ specialises in. ‘WearMyWardrobeOut’ is a sustainable fashion company that aims to reduce waste, repurpose old clothing, and promote circular fashion. Circular fashion seeks to use all the materials that are currently in circulation.

Maria Loria takes good quality material from second-hand shops and repurposes it for beautiful dresses. My personal favourite is when the repurposing of old curtains, which she turns into gorgeous dresses with a retro feel. To her, it is all about creativity and thinking outside the box. Not only does Maria work with curtains, but she has also worked with varying mediums, such as the small sample sizes left over from fashion companies.

Maria Loria aims for zero waste, whether mixing materials or creating separate pieces from the materials, such as collars. The pieces at ‘WearMyWardrobeOut’ are one of a kind, being both unique and environmentally friendly. Maria Loria also tries to alter already bought fast fashion items to fit people better, a task that can prove challenging with the material on hand.

Whereas most vintage clothing is made from cotton, fast fashion tends to be made with polyester. Not only is polyester massively devasting for the environment as it is another type of plastic, but the material itself does not take damage very well. Therefore, it is important to consider the materials that stay with us and whether we plan to throw them away, donate them or wear them. For example, Maria Loria often mixes different materials to make a dress, so nothing goes to waste.

Next time you consider throwing away your old clothing, think about donating it to charity or repurposing it into something you can love again.

The Clandestine Existence

Skye Collacott WilliamsonLeave a comment

First Published via HUB Magazine when I was Culture Editor.

Date Published: 12th February 2023.

Photography by Skye Collacott Williamson.

Dearest reader,

I went too far this time.

I lay crestfallen on the wooden ledge overlooking the moors, and the clock in my room continues ticking. The raindrops on the window drowned in my misery. I am terrified to look at myself in the mirror, scared to be greeted by the woman I had become. The memory of unravelling her braids lingers in my hands. Her beauty was remarkable.


I hadn’t seen Rosalina in a month, and I knew it would be easier if I never did. Anxiously pondering over my mistakes would not achieve anything.


My husband is the love of my life in every way that matters. Father of my children, friend and first love. Benedict taught me how to love and that I could be loved. He built me a house, layering the stones of memories and decorating it with his love for me. Nevertheless, Rosalina – dearest reader, I cannot resist – planted her seeds of ivy over the walls. They grew subtle at first. However, each year, the roots grew deeper into the stones until they began to crack and crumble under their force. Until I am left as nothing but encapsulated by her, covered in her ivy, covered in our clandestine love.


I silently crept out of my house. My blue coat kept out the rain as I galloped through the moors. I continued until I was far enough to barely see the house, the newfound solitude, allowing me to finally scream everything that had been building inside of me for twenty-five years. The moors served as freedom, allowing me to remain unapologetically me. I would never have her love to keep; the thought maimed me. Then, when I was gasping for air, smiling at the heavy feeling in my lungs, I heard another horse approach and race past me. A dash of purple awakens me, I spur my horse even faster to catch up to her. I couldn’t let her disappear again into the fog.


“Rosalina,” I shouted, desperate even as the wind covered my sound.


The fog blurred lines in my mind, making it difficult to navigate. My entire life, I realised, mirrored fog. Only when I see her face does everything come into focus, into colour.


I had doubts about whether she had ever seen or heard me, but I knew I could not stop my shouting. Perhaps, dearest reader, it was by my distraction or despair to see my love leave me again. But as we approached the forest, I missed a low-hanging branch and came crashing, hard, to the ground in a breathless pile of a broken heart.


It must have been the loud snap that caught Rosalina’s attention.


It maimed me to love her, but is that not what love is? To be consumed by emotion, not to see reason? If love was rational, I did not want it, my dear reader. I’d rather bleed from the thorns of love than the curse of my own mind plaguing me forevermore in the question of whether she had been my great love.


She reached out her hand. Still breathless from the fall, I could not help hesitating and being enticed by the beauty in front of me. She had silk lavender gloves, a fact I noticed as I accepted her hand. Yet, perhaps it was my rampant imagination, but I could still feel the warmth of her skin against mine. This single thought cursed me speechless. Rain dripped from her eyelashes and chin, refocusing my attention on her cherry lips, slightly shivering from the cold rain. The look in her eye was not one of the stolen stares we frequently shared across crowded rooms, but vulnerability.


“I wish not to talk”, she retreated her hand from mine and turned her back on me.

This must be the cruellest of fates, not to talk to the person you desire most intimately in this world. To burn for someone and not reveal your friendship’s true nature. I could not hold the truth back anymore, nor did I desire to.


“I thought it was my title, my duty, my faith, I cannot live without.” I stepped towards her, shouting against the beating rain, “But it is you, whom I cannot and will not sacrifice.” Although her back remained turned against me, her head angled as if to listen to my pleas. “You maim me a million little times until I cannot breathe, and yet I still burn for you. You above all others. I am yours and always will be, Rosalina. I would ruin myself, but I shall not bear witness to my dearest children receiving the same fate…”


“I will not make do under any false pretences”, she interrupted me. The wind blew down her purple hood to unleash her wild curls. She held her hand over her heart with the other on top to comfort her as she breathlessly said, “your faithless love is a scar that opens eternally”.


I reached out to her, but I stopped myself, “You are like the rose bushes I pass by every morning. Your beauty draws me in, but no matter how hard I try to avoid their thorns, I pull away maimed.”


She shook her head. It isn’t enough. Anger bottled up so long inside of me. I am drenched head to toe in the water. I scream to the sky and curse it for granted, my love for her and yet taking away my ability to be with her.


“Look at this godforsaken mess you made me; I am bleeding my love for you.” I shouted at her. She appeared stunned at first until she stepped toward me, closing the space between us then placed her hand on my cheek.


“I have nothing else to say, except I love you. I have spent 10 years denying this damning fate.” She stroked my cheek with her thumb, “Marianne, I don’t want to do it anymore”. I pulled her closer to me. I am intoxicated by the smell of lavender and cinnamon. I stared into her beautiful eyes.


“You have bewitched my mind for ten years, I promise till I’m lying on my deathbed to truly, completely love you and spend the rest of my life making up for lost time”. She kissed me gently at first, but as the rain intensified, so does the kiss.

Sir Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari: Power Moves and Crucial Clauses.

Skye Collacott WilliamsonLeave a comment

First Published via HUB Magazine when I was Editor-in-Chief.

Date marked: 16th February 2024

It was a moment that people could only create mere rumours about, a moment that changed the history of Formula 1 and a moment that left Hamilton fans feeling surprised.


Sir Lewis Hamilton will be joining Ferrari in the 2025 season.


The significance of this moment cannot be overstated nor overshadowed by the idea that moving teams is as simple as football. Sir Lewis Hamilton joined McLaren’s young driver programme in 1998, leading him to make Formula 1 history as the first black driver in 2007, and he continued to race with McLaren until 2012. Since then, he has driven for Mercedes and paved the way for various programmes. Mercedes has the highest diversity and the largest number of women employed. Many regarded that Hamilton would never leave Mercedes after winning seven world championships with them.


The move to Ferrari is not as peaceful as just changing cars and mechanics. It also leads Ferrari to no longer renew their contract with Carlos Sainz. Formula 1 teams all have a first driver and a second driver; for Ferrari, that is Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, who replaced Sebastian Vettel when he retired, and for Mercedes, that is Sir Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. While Leclerc is a phenomenal driver, one cannot imagine a seven-time world champion would settle for a second driver. Russell needs to be an experienced driver to be considered for the first driver.


It begs the question, why did Hamilton move to Ferrari? Some have pointed out similar patterns to his move from McLaren to Mercedes; both took place one year before regulations changed. Others have decided that Sir Lewis Hamilton is a risk taker, and after the nightmares from the 2023 season with the car from hell, one cannot fault him.
Charles Leclerc and Sir Lewis Hamilton got disqualified together earlier in the 2023 season (read the article here).
Leclerc had noted in a previous interview that when asked what he looks for in a teammate, he answered: ‘Hello, Lewis’.
Similarly, both Vettel and Hamilton have referred to seeing themselves in Leclerc. While Hamilton is a supportive driver to the newer and younger drivers, he has always been extra supportive of Leclerc.


During the Las Vegas opening, Hamilton noted that he is a better teammate and driver than in 2016, vaguely referencing the situation named ‘Brocedes’ with Nico Rosberg. The two teammates and best friends collided, resulting in a crash in 2016, leading to a massive fallout in which Rosberg won the championship.


While I disagree that age matters in sports, Sir Lewis Hamilton will be forty when he drives for Ferrari. It was always considered that Hamilton would stay with Mercedes for the rest of his driving career. However, it was announced they had only signed another two-year contract with Hamilton, possibly due to his age. Thus, Ferrari pounced on the opportunity to sign a seven-time world champion. As far as fans were aware, Carlos Sainz was, without a doubt, resigned from Ferrari. Interestingly, Ferrari has yet to win a world championship since 2007.

As Max Verstappen (first driver for Redbull) notes, the upcoming season may be an ‘awkward’ challenge for Sir Lewis Hamilton while he stays with a team he plans to leave next season. I like to hope Mercedes and Toto Wolff will continue to treat Sir Lewis Hamilton well in their goodbyes of the driver. The upcoming 2024 season begins at the start of March. Until then, we will just have to wait.

Will Sir Lewis Hamilton’s power move be a big enough risk to earn him his rightful eight-time world champion title?

Bibliography-

Benson, Andrew. ‘Lewis Hamilton: Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur says signing ‘huge opportunity’ for team.’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/68284596 . Published by BBC Sport, 14th February 2024.

Formula One. ‘Leclerc offers reaction to Hamilton being signed by Ferrari as his new team mate’. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.leclerc-offers-reaction-to-hamilton-being-signed-by-ferrari-as-his-new-team.7JfyqJIvP8KI1JXC8BnyDE.html . Published by Formula One, 13th February 2024.

Jackson, Kieran. ‘Max Verstappen reacts to ‘awkward’ Lewis Hamilton move to Ferrari’. https://www.independent.co.uk/f1/max-verstappen-lewis-hamilton-ferrari-mecedes-f1-b2497328.html . Published by The Independent, 16th February 2024.

Sky Sports. ‘Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes driver ’emotional’ preparing for final season with team ahead of Ferrari move.’ https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13071476/lewis-hamilton-mercedes-driver-emotional-preparing-for-final-season-with-team-ahead-of-ferrari-move . Published by Sky Sports, 14th February 2024.

Are the FIA, Once Again, Targeting Sir Lewis Hamilton?

Skye Collacott WilliamsonLeave a comment

First Published via HUB Magazine when I was Editor-in-Chief.

Date marked: 17th November 2023.

Recent FIA punishments for Lewis Hamilton beg the question of is Sir Lewis Hamilton is being personally targeted. From last year’s nose earring fine to crossing the track €50,000 fine to a disqualification. 

Many have suggested that Sir Lewis Hamilton is held to a higher standard as a role model. In comparison to team sports such as football and rugby, Formula One presents itself as a rather personal sport. One might say the cars are an extension of the drivers themselves. While Sir Lewis Hamilton has a team behind him, he is the one who captures the blame in countless news articles. 

In most recent events, Sir Lewis Hamilton finished in second place, merely two point two seconds behind Max Verstappen in Austin and he was later disqualified. The FIA investigated only four out of the seventeen winning qualifying cars, of which half failed the floor regulations. Max Verstappen (Redbull) and Lando Norris (Mclaren) were cleared but Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) was disqualified as well. Half the cars that were checked failed regulations it is confusing to why the FIA would not check more cars. Furthermore, the Mercedes and Ferrari teammates’ cars were not checked, did the FIA just not bother checking? Simply from Mercedes and Ferrari, this was an accident of excessively worn-out floors. 

The regulations state that the floor plank holes should only be worn from one mm to nine mm across the weekend. However, given the nature of a sprint race, they had not been able to measure planks since Friday Afternoon. Thus, it is not surprising that they failed the regulations, yet this does not reflect upon Sir Lewis Hamilton himself. 

In comparison, in the Qatar Sprint race, only one car was checked, further in the Qatar GP only three cars were checked and furthermore, none were checked after the Japanese GP. It all seems somewhat bizarre. 

Sir Lewis Hamilton continuously speaks up against the FIA (read the article on the FIA banning political statements at Formula 1 and the effect this could have had on Sir Lewis Hamilton). 

Sir Lewis Hamilton has recently spoken against the FIA’s increasing of fines. The FIA decided after twelve years to increase the maximum fine amount. Not merely by double nor by treble but by quadrupling the amount. This means they can now fine drivers up to one million euros (£871k). Considering Sir Lewis Hamilton is always on the receiving end of these fines it’s no wonder he spoke against this: 

“There’s a lot of money in this whole industry and there’s a lot more that we need to do in terms of creating better accessibility, better diversity, more opportunities for people who don’t or wouldn’t normally have a chance to get into a sport like this – so many causes around the world. That’s the only way they’ll get that million from me.” 

Sir Lewis Hamilton paths the way for change in Formula One and it’s a shame he is constantly met with resistance. 

Bibliography-

Formula One. ‘Hamilton and Leclerc disqualified from United States Grand Prix for technical breach’. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.breaking-hamilton-and-leclerc-disqualified-from-united-states-grand-prix-for.10nvuyvEPfMgoeWxWOhw0a.html .Published by Formula One, 23rd October 2023.

Jogia, Saajan. ‘F1 News: Lewis Hamilton Makes Strong Statement After Huge FIA Rule Change’. https://www.si.com/fannation/racing/f1briefings/news/f1-news-lewis-hamilton-makes-strong-statement-after-huge-fia-rule-change-sj4 . Published by Fannation, 20th October 2023.

Kew, Matthew. ‘The can of worms opened by Hamilton and Leclerc’s F1 US GP disqualifications’. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/the-can-of-worms-opened-by-hamilton-and-leclercs-f1-us-gp-disqualifications/10536696/ . Published by Auto Sport, 24th October 2023.

Maher, Thomas. ‘FIA make Lewis Hamilton stance clear after personal attack accusations’. https://www.planetf1.com/news/fia-stance-accusations-lewis-hamilton-attack . Published by Planet F1, 18th October 2023.

FIA bans political statements at Formula 1: Sir Lewis Hamilton

Skye Collacott WilliamsonLeave a comment

First Published via HUB Magazine when I was Culture Editor.

Date marked: 24th February 2023.

The new season of Formula 1 begins soon, with much excitement over the latest cars, particularly Sir Lewis Hamilton’s Black Mercedes W14. But unfortunately, it also begins with some new rules, and Sir Lewis Hamilton seems to be the target of these unnecessary rules.

Throughout the years, Sir Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel have made various political statements through their clothing and even helmets. From LGBTQ+ rights to Black Lives Matter to environmental matters, though their actions have been frowned upon, there has never been a ban before. They have led to an increase in political statements over the last three years.

However, Sebastian Vettel, who drove for Ferrari in his last season, retired after the 2022 season. So, the FIA coincidentally added the ban when Lewis Hamilton is the only racer it affects.

Sir Lewis Hamilton is a driver for Mercedes, previously McLaren, who has won 103 races in his career. He previously discussed racism inside Formula 1, especially at the start of his career. However, unlike most Formula 1 racers, Sir Lewis Hamilton has always used his platform for good and to encourage change.

For the 2022 season, Mercedes’s design for Lewis Hamilton’s helmet had a big rainbow through the top of this overall green helmet. Though amongst the political ban, Mercedes has once again designed a helmet with elements of a rainbow, and it is not as large as the 2022 season. Nevertheless, Sir Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes are making a stand.

The FIA ban on personal, religious, and political statements may end in fines or even a risk of being banned from racing. Though, Mercedes and Sir Lewis Hamilton are not ones to hide from the risk of a fine.

Sir Lewis Hamilton is not the only racer to speak up about the FIA ban. His Mercedes teammate George Russell has backed up Sir Lewis Hamilton in hopes that this ban will be solved before the 2023 season starts.

The timing of this entire discourse still seems suspicious. Suppose Sir Lewis Hamilton did not have the support of his teammates and a record of seven championship wins. In that case, this ban could end Sir Lewis Hamilton’s career. In previous seasons, he had Sebastian Vettel by his side, who also took risks in making political statements. Now Sir Lewis Hamilton is alone, they have introduced this rule.

Whether in his racing or activism, Sir Lewis Hamilton is not one to back down from intimidation. For example, Lewis Hamilton was disqualified from qualifying in the 2021 Sao Paulo Grand Prix, meaning he began at the back of the grid. Yet, he overtook all positions and ended up winning.

At the launch of the new black Mercedes car on the topic of the FIA political ban. Sir Lewis Hamilton said:

I wasn’t watching the news over the winter, but I have heard it. It doesn’t surprise me, but nothing will stop me from speaking about what I feel passionate about and the issues there are. The sport has a responsibility to speak out on things and create awareness of important topics when we travel to all these places. So, nothing changes.

Not only did Sir Lewis Hamilton make political statements at Formula 1, but alongside Mercedes, they launched a scholarship programme. Ignite partnership aims to increase diversity in racing through increasing support for young girls in motor sport and grants a scholarship to at least ten Black students across 2023 to 2025 academic years. In addition, each year, at least five undergrad students will be given a scholarship for a master’s degree in engineering and much more.

There has been a lot of debate around Sir Lewis Hamilton’s political statements and other sports involvement in political statements. Sir Lewis Hamilton has a platform that many activists can only dream of. He also changes himself, so he should be allowed to express his politics.

Referencing-

BBC Sport. “I am still going to be speaking my mind – Lewis Hamilton”. Andrew Benson. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/64651611

Formula 1. “Hamilton takes victory in Brazil after stunning drive from P10 and pass on Verstappen”. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.hamilton-takes-victory-in-brazil-after-stunning-drive-from-p10-and-pass-on.6svQJahOZ1FjwZHX0Zm3Bx.html

Independent. “George Russell takes aim at ‘silly’ FIA political ban”. Kieran Jackson. https://www.independent.co.uk/f1/george-russell-mercedes-car-launch-fia-political-ban-b2282953.html

Independent. “Lewis Hamilton escapes fine for wearing nose stud but Mercedes pay penalty”. Philip Duncan. https://www.independent.co.uk/f1/lewis-hamilton-fia-british-singapore-grand-prix-silverstone-b2190351.html

Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team. “Ignite Partnership announces inaugural grants to boost UK motorsport”. https://www.mercedesamgf1.com/marsF1/en/instance/ko/Ignite-Partnership-announces-inaugural-grants-to-boost-UK-motorsport.xhtml?oid=189016170

Sky Sports. “Lewis Hamilton: ‘Nothing will stop me’ from speaking out in Formula 1 despite FIA free speech ban”. https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12472/12811775/lewis-hamilton-nothing-will-stop-me-from-speaking-out-in-formula-1-despite-fia-free-speech-ban