Illustration by Evie Dowden
Pumpkins are dominating shop windows, Squid Game costumes are selling out on Amazon, and The Addams Family have made a swift return to cinemas – all signs that Halloween is just around the corner… so what better way to celebrate this October festival than by launching the first teaser, team issue of Symphony of Art?
In this issue, you’ll delve into a creative cauldron of haunting poetry, spooky film reviews, and music to soundtrack your Halloween (& a whole lot more!). But before you dive into our writers’ ghostly creations, we wanted to take a moment to introduce you to the team behind this year’s issues of Symphony of Art. So we’ve compiled our answers to the most ridiculous, Halloween-themed questions we could think up…
Questions for the Co-Editors
There is a film called ‘A Monster in Paris’. As someone currently living there, what is the most ‘monstrous’ thing you’ve come across so far?
Nadya Miryanova: The French visa application process and the number of croissants I’ve eaten.
- Role in Symphony of Art: Founder and Co-Editor
- What I do in daily life: 3rd year MML student at Homerton College, Cambridge
Halloween is the scariest time of year, what’s the scariest thing about you?
Lotte Brundle: Just take a look at my ex-boyfriends…
- Role in Symphony of Art: Co-Editor
- What I do in daily life: 2nd Year English Student at Hughes Hall College, Cambridge
Music Section
You have to compose the soundtrack for a Halloween-themed movie. What genre & instrumentation do you pick and why?
Ben Papsun: I would compose a soundtrack consisting only of carefully timed squeals from rubber chickens, as an exercise in artistic discipline.
- Role in Symphony of Art: Music Editor and Columnist
- What I do in daily life: MPhil Student in Criticism and Culture at Hughes Hall College, Cambridge
Stage & Screen Section
Favourite horror monster or villain?
Samantha Creswick: Definitely Mary Shelley’s Creature (although we all know the real monster was Frankenstein himself!) Not only did Shelley change the horror landscape by blending her particular brand of science fiction with the mainstream gothic style, I feel like we can all relate to the Creature’s existential angst.
- Role in Symphony of Art: Stage & Screen Editor
- What I do in daily life : MPhil in Management at the Judge Business School, Cambridge, and former English graduate from Downing College, Cambridge.
What stage directions would you give Frankenstein upon his first entrance on stage?
Arianna Muñoz: When you first enter the stage, walk furiously, briskly. Your mind works 1000 times faster than anyone around you (at least, that’s what you think); your body can’t keep up with the thoughts, ideas, and ambitions that bubble up. If you could fast forward your way through life, all the way to the moment of your greatest success and fame, you would.
- Role in Symphony of Art: Stage & Screen Columnist
- What I do in daily life: 2nd year English Student at Christ’s College, Cambridge
Which scary movie makes you hide behind your popcorn?
Alex Castillo-Powell: Knives Out… Daniel Craig’s attempt at a southern American accent still haunts me in my dreams.
- Role in Symphony of Art: Stage & Screen Columnist
- What I do in daily life : Recent MPhil Graduate from Pembroke College, Cambridge
Literature Section
If you were one of the witches in Macbeth, what toil and trouble would you create?
Jessie Hodges: I would hex Mainsbury’s to expel every gown-wearing customer from the biscuits and cheese aisles. Forever.
- Role in Symphony of Art: Literature Editor
- What I do in daily life: 3rd Year English Student at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge
You’re a poet back in the 1800s. How do you spend your Halloween evening?
Renée Eshel: Probably would’ve danced naked around a fire and cast a couple of spells, before coming home to my black cat and falling asleep in front of the fire!
- Role in Symphony of Art: Poetry columnist
- What I do in daily life: 3rd Year HSPS (Sociology!) Student at Newnham College, Cambridge
Art Section
What would make you pull the face in “The Scream”?
Evie Dowden: Spiders. Every time.
- Role in Symphony of Art: Artist & Article illustrator
- What I do in daily life: First Year English Student at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Given that Vampires have no reflection, how do you think they’d paint a self portrait?
Philippa Murphy: Probably much like a small child would, just lots of bright colours and chaotic shapes.
- Role in Symphony of Art: Cover Artist & Illustrator
- What I do in daily life : 3rd Year Psychology Student at University of Exeter
Art attack! Come up with an idea for a monster made only out of art supplies?
Georgia Ezell: If given the chance, I’d create a gelatinous creature made out of rubber cement!
- Role in Symphony of Art: Artist & Illustrator
- What I do in daily life : Illustrator, Designer, and Student at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA