Jordan Thorne, Author at The Orbital

The Editors try… to feel the love in lockdown

28Feb

By Jordan ThorneNo Comments

Sports & Socs

The Editors try… to feel the love in lockdown

Hello dear readers, we’re back after a brief hiatus, and if the old saying has any merit then our absence should have made your hearts grow fonder, which is perfect as we are talking romance. It was Valentine’s day earlier this month and whilst I’m not entirely sure what a martyred bishop from the Roman empire and overpriced heart shaped chocolates have in common I was quickly reminded by my lapsed catholic girlfriend that as I am a heathen, I’m not entitled to comment on ecclesiastical history. Looks like someone isn’t getting that £5 single rose from the Spar in Englefield Green. Consumerist manifestations of religious holidays aside, a date in lockdown is a challenging prospect. Especially when a quiet night in with a bottle of wine is what the government has been ask...

Painting Plagues: How Artists Have Portrayed Pandemics Throughout History

28Feb

By Jordan ThorneNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Visual Arts

Painting Plagues: How Artists Have Portrayed Pandemics Throughout History

As the UK nears the grim milestone of 113,000 reported deaths within 28 days of a positive COVID-19 test (as of 9th February), it serves as a reminder that history has a tendency to repeat itself. Pandemics are not a novel concept, as they have happened before and are, unfortunately, bound to happen again one day. Whilst art is not one of the first things that may come to mind when you think of the word ‘pandemic’, it is, and always has been, intrinsically linked. When communities faced a new invisible enemy, it was the job of artists to portray the devastating effects of these diseases, therefore forever immortalising these illnesses within a visual medium. The Black Death is the most infamous of all plagues and is still listed today as the deadliest pandemic ever recorded in hu...

From Wiz Khalifa to The Wellerman: An Interview with Nathan Evans

28Feb

By Jordan ThorneNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Music

From Wiz Khalifa to The Wellerman: An Interview with Nathan Evans

We spoke to Nathan Evans - the viral TikTok star, whose sea shanties have sent waves crashing throughout the global charts. At the time of writing (26th February 2021), Wellerman sits third in the official charts, its fourth successive week in the Top 10, peaking at number 1 in both Germany and the Netherlands and second in land-locked Switzerland. Where did the idea of sea shanties come from? Have you always been into them or were they suggested to you? It was actually suggested on TikTok. Someone left a comment underneath one of my videos saying “There’s a song called Leave Her Johnny, it’s a sea shanty and I think you would be really good at it if you want to try it”. So I went away, listened to it, sang it, and the comments underneath were just amazing and it was like “Can you d...

28Feb

By Jordan ThorneNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Music

The Art of the Playlist

I adore playlisting. My music platform of choice is Spotify, and although I was gravely disappointed to find out my premium student membership had expired (there’s a four year limit), I still happily pay for premium- it’s somewhat of an essential now. I used to almost exclusively listen to albums from my favourite artists, buying them in charity shops or using an iTunes gift voucher, only discovering new music through friends’ recommendations or by browsing the charts, but then came music streaming services. Suddenly I could listen to anything I wanted, but how on earth would I choose? How could I listen to everything and decide what I liked? And most importantly, how would I organise my music? The simple and beautiful answer is the art of the playlist. A mode of curation completely...

American Boyfriend: A Suburban Love Story by Kevin Abstract

28Feb

By Jordan ThorneNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Music

American Boyfriend: A Suburban Love Story by Kevin Abstract

In 2016 Kevin Abstract, aged barely 20, released his second studio album American Boyfriend: A Suburban Love Story. At the time, the album did not get spoken about or reviewed very much, and did not receive the recognition or love it truly deserves. With the world still swept up in the genius that was Frank Ocean’s Blonde, American Boyfriend slipped under the radar. Despite being criminally underrated in a year of fantastic music, American Boyfriend manages to be not just one of the best alternative R&B albums of the year, but one of the best albums of the year entirely. Coming-of-age in media is absolutely everywhere, from the entire genre of YA fiction to the best works of John Hughes; but nothing does coming-of-age quite like this album. Upon foundations of teen angst, desire an...

27Feb

By Jordan ThorneNo Comments

Science & Technology

LGBTQ, Across the World

With Valentine’s Day just passed, I want to write about love today. A love that has made headlines, questioned laws in various countries, been a harbinger of change and has made the world accustomed to the idea of love and equality. Over 29 countries in the world now have legalized same-sex marriage and given recognition to those belonging to the LGBTQ community. We as a society over the years have judged people on various occasions and various parameters. Discrimination on the basis on sex, caste and creed remains to be a highly debated and controversial one; from 1924 with the Henry Gerber’s documented gay rights organization, to 1976 when an ophthalmologist and a professional tennis player Renée Richards underwent gender reassignment surgery and got banned from competing in th...

27Feb

By Jordan ThorneNo Comments

Science & Technology

Are Plants More Human Than We Know?

Plants are an essential part of our existence. They are the source of everything we rely on to survive. From our food, air, and water, to our climate, clothes, and life-saving medicines. Although plants play such a key role in our lives, they are often taken for granted as something that exists to serve us and which we have little in common with. However, are plants more human than we think? In times of high stress, it isn’t uncommon for people to scream out in frustration or let out a cry for help. This can often feel good and lets others know how we are feeling. However, this emotional response isn’t only done by humans. In fact, Tel Aviv University scientists have shown that plants have this same response when put under drought or physical stress. When placing microphones near stres...

Two short poems: Her name is anxiety and… Nathaniel

27Feb

By Jordan ThorneNo Comments

Creative Writing

Two short poems: Her name is anxiety and… Nathaniel

Her name is anxiety and She lives on the surface of you, a thin layered coating of pure adrenaline; she tastes like everything at once, a thousand bees stinging your tongue and you’re simultaneously still and moving - the world whizzes past with a high pitched whistle, and the bees move to your bloodstream, limbs shake and you’re out of control: she owns you. Nathaniel He’s impulsive: eyes too big, too blue, too wide. They take in the blurry world through thick lenses. Glasses magnify tired eyes, heavy bags held up by skin spread smooth turned purple overnight, bruised by the weight of all that he has seen.

Narcissism and Gaslighting: Love Shouldn’t Feel Like This

27Feb

By Jordan ThorneNo Comments

Lifestyle

Narcissism and Gaslighting: Love Shouldn’t Feel Like This

A relationship is based on a foundation of equality, trust, love, and commitment. Once these foundations begin to break away, the relationship is in jeopardy of becoming unhealthy and unsafe. Spotting abuse and getting out of an abusive relationship is never easy, particularly when you are being controlled and manipulated emotionally. Gaslighting can destroy your sense of reality and a narcissist enjoys nothing more than to tear away your sense of self and identity. The real truth is that once you have spotted these signs of abuse, your abuser makes it virtually impossible for you to leave as an attachment has formed between the both of you. The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone, and that you can get out and find yourself again. Here are a few signs to look ...

Marsha P. Johnson and the Stonewall Riots

27Feb

By Jordan ThorneNo Comments

Features

Marsha P. Johnson and the Stonewall Riots

Marsha P. Johnson, an African American drag artist, was an individual that earned great respect due to their activism in the 1960s and 70s, in a fight for rights and equality for the LGBTQ+ community. Johnson first came to prominence in 1969 after the occurrence of the Stonewall raid, when the New York Police Department (NYPD) raided a gay bar in New York with the name ‘The Stonewall Inn’. Over 200 people were forced out into the streets and treated with excessive violence, and Johnson was amongst those who stood up to the police during this raid. This courage in the midst of an extremely terrifying event sparked inspiration throughout the country; in the following days Johnson led a series of protests and riots that were supported by the great uproa...