Lee’s legacy

CommunityThe Day That Went Missing is

a profoundly moving study of memory, denial and grief.

P7 P16 CommunityPrecious Gudza, Zimbabwean

hairstylist in Doha, talks about her journey to modern hairstyles and her future goals and aspirations.

Lee’s legacyCOVERSTORY

A look at how Stan Lee helped create

the modern superhero movie. P4-5

Thursday, November 15, 2018Rabia I 7, 1440 AH

Doha today: 240 - 320

REVIEWS SHOWBIZ

Widows elevates pulpy political

thriller to high art.

Page 14

All of us are here

to do a job: Sara.

Page 15

Thursday, November 15, 20182 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

Community EditorKamran Rehmat

e-mail: [email protected]: 44466405

Fax: 44350474

Emergency 999Worldwide Emergency Number 112Kahramaa – Electricity and Water 991Local Directory 180International Calls Enquires 150Hamad International Airport 40106666Labor Department 44508111, 44406537Mowasalat Taxi 44588888Qatar Airways 44496000Hamad Medical Corporation 44392222, 44393333Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation 44845555, 44845464Primary Health Care Corporation 44593333 44593363 Qatar Assistive Technology Centre 44594050Qatar News Agency 44450205 44450333Q-Post – General Postal Corporation 44464444

Humanitarian Services Offi ce (Single window facility for the repatriation of bodies)Ministry of Interior 40253371, 40253372, 40253369Ministry of Health 40253370, 40253364Hamad Medical Corporation 40253368, 40253365Qatar Airways 40253374

USEFUL NUMBERS

Quote Unquote

PRAYER TIMEFajr 4.31amShorooq (sunrise) 5.50amZuhr (noon) 11.18amAsr (afternoon) 2.24pmMaghreb (sunset) 4.48pmIsha (night) 6.18pm

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing

can be done without hope and confi dence.”

— Helen Keller

Cinderella and the Secret PrinceDIRECTION: Lynne SoutherlandCAST: Kirsten Day, Stephanie SanditzSYNOPSIS: Cinderella discovers a secret that could shake

their world: an evil witch turned the prince into a mouse and replaced him with a look-alike. Cinderella and her friends must save the real prince and help him defeat the evil witch.

THEATRES: Landmark, The Mall, Royal Plaza

Bohemian Rhapsody DIRECTION: Bryan SingerCAST: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Joseph Mazzello SYNOPSIS: Bohemian Rhapsody is a foot-stomping

celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury. Freddie defi ed stereotypes and shattered convention to become one of the most beloved entertainers on the planet. The fi lm traces the meteoric rise of the band through their iconic songs and revolutionary sound. They reach unparalleled success, but in an unexpected

turn Freddie, surrounded by darker infl uences, shuns Queen in pursuit of his solo career. Having suff ered greatly without the collaboration of Queen, Freddie manages to reunite with his bandmates just in time for Live Aid. While bravely facing a recent Aids diagnosis, Freddie leads the band in one of the greatest performances in the history of rock music. Queen cements a legacy that continues to inspire outsiders, dreamers and music lovers to this day.

THEATRES: Royal Plaza, The Mall

The Mall Cinema (1): Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald (2D) 2pm; Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald (2D) 4:45pm; Pihu (Hindi) 7:15pm; Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald (2D) 9pm; Mangalayam Thanthunnanena (Malayalam) 11:30pm.The Mall Cinema (2): The Grinch (2D) 2:30pm; Bonnie Bear Iii: Big Top Secret (2D) 4:15pm; Cinderella And The Secret Prince (2D) 6:15pm; Thugs Of Hindostan (Hindi) 8pm; Sarkar (Tamil) 11pm.The Mall Cinema (3): Mangalayam Thanthunnanena (Malayalam) 2:30pm; Pihu (Hindi) 5:15pm; Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald (2D) 7pm; Bohemian Rhapsody (2D) 9:30pm; Galveston (2D) 11:45pm.

Landmark Cinema (1): Mangalayam Thanthunnanena (Malayalam) 2:15pm; Fantastic Beasts: The Crimesof Grindelwald (2D) 4:45pm; I Still See You (2D) 7:30pm; Galveston (2D) 9:15pm; Mangalayam Thanthunnanena (Malayalam) 11pm.Landmark Cinema (2): Bonnie Bear Iii: Big Top Secret (2D) 2:30pm; Cinderella And The Secret Prince (2D) 4:15pm; Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald (2D) 6pm; Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald (2D) 8:30pm; Sarkar (Tamil) 11pm.Landmark Cinema (3): The Grinch (2D) 3pm; Dog Days

(2D) 4:45pm; Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald (2D) 6:45pm; Mara (2D) 9:15pm; Thugs Of Hindostan (Hindi) 11pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1): The Grinch (2D) 2:30pm; Cinderella And The Secret Prince (2D) 4:30pm; Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald (3D) 6:15pm; Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald (2D) 8:45pm; Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald (2D) 11:15pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2): Mangalayam Thanthunnanena (Malayalam) 2:30pm; Dog Days (2D) 5:15pm; Blue Night (2D) 7:15pm; Bohemian Rhapsody (2D) 9pm; Mangalayam Thanthunnanena (Malayalam) 11:15pm.

3Thursday, November 15, 2018 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYROUND & ABOUT

Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change

EVENTS

Qatar Finance and Installment Exhibition

WHERE: DECCWHEN: TodayTIME: 7pm – 10pmThe QFI Exhibition is a 3-day event that

brings together the best of Qatar’s finance community, and local and international visitors who are keen to access Qatar’s robust market. We are pleased to present this opportunity to local and international investors, banking, finance and government institutions, along with leading firms in the real estate, investment and fin-tech sectors.

Katara Beach - School StudentsWHERE: KataraWHEN: OngoingTIME: 9am – 12pmBy participating in the programme of

‘Our culture is a school’, Katara Beach emphasises the Qatari marine tradition and introduces to students the meaning of Dasha, Al Qafal and various type of pearls. The students will discover all details of the Fath El-Kheir journey.

Ballet LessonsWHERE: Music and Arts AtelierWHEN: OngoingTIME: 4pm – 8pmFor more info e-mail at registration@

atelierqatar.com or call on 33003839.

Cycling: Losail Circuit Sports ClubWHERE: Losail CircuitWHEN: OngoingTIME: 5pmLosail Circuit Sports Club, in association

with Qatar Sports For All Federation,

invites all cyclists, runners and walkers to train under the floodlights of Losail International Circuit every Wednesdays.

Startup Weekend CompetitionWHERE: Tawar MallWHEN: Ongoing till November 17TIME: 6pm – 10pmIn just 54 hours, you will experience the

highs, lows, fun, and pressure that make up life at a startup. As you learn how to create a real company, you’ll meet the very best mentors, investors, cofounders, and sponsors who are ready to help you get started.

Youth Empowerment Workshop Series

WHERE: The Pearl, DohaWHEN: November 17 – December 1TIME: 8am – 8pmThe youth will discover how to: boost

confidence, overcome bullying, improve goal setting, be assertive, leadership skills, career guidance, be productive and many more for reservations email at [email protected].

Meditation RetreatWHERE: Banana Island ResortWHEN: December 14 – 15Imagine waking up with the peaceful

silence of a paradise beach as your senses are lured by the smell of essential oils, vegan food and fresh herbal tea. With each breath, your whole being feels relaxed and recharged. You can finally release all the tension you’ve been carrying for years. The bright sunlight warms your face as you walk on the beach to join morning yoga, sound healing and mindfulness meditation.

Heritage Library’s Permanent Exhibition

WHERE: Qatar National LibraryWHEN: Ongoing till December 31TIME: 9am – 8pmThe exhibition displays around 400 items

from the QNL Heritage Library collection that illustrate the spread and evolution of ideas throughout the Arab and Islamic world, as well as document interactions between Arabs and the West over the past several centuries. The exhibition features

books, manuscripts, historical photographs maps, globes and travellers’ instruments that tell the story of Qatar, along with the history of science, literature, writing, travel in the region, and much more.

After School ActivitiesWHERE: AtelierWHEN: OngoingMusic and arts Activities for students

taking place after they finish their day in school includes Group Music lessons, Hip-hop, Ballet, Drawing and Painting, Drama Theatre & Taekwondo. Ages between 5 and 10 years old after school hours.

Hobby ClassesWHERE: Mystic Arts Centre behind Al

Hilal Focus Medical CentreWHEN:Wednesday – MondayMystic Art Centre, is a holistic

performing artsinstitution and a one stop solution for adults as well as children looking to explore their talents in various art forms. We offer classes in Carnatic Music, Hindustani Music, Karate, Yoga, Zumba, Classical Dance, Salsa, Hip Hop, contemporary and Bollywood dance forms. For details, call 33897609.

Dance and instrument classesWHERE: TCA Campus, Behind Gulf

Times BuildingWHEN: Wednesday – MondayLearn the movements of dance styles

in Bollywood, Hip Hop and also the musical instruments such as Piano, Guitar, Keyboard for adults as well kids and move in the world of music. For details, contact 66523871/ 31326749.

ISC Inter-School Skipping Rope Championship - 2018Where: Olive International School (Al Thumama)When: November 24Time: 2:30pm – 6:30pmIndian Sports Centre (ISC), under the patronage of Embassy of India, is bringing the

second edition of ISC Inter-School Skipping Rope Championship-2018 for Speed Hop and Speed Endurance competitions. The competition includes categories of Under–12, Under–18 and Adults. Entry is free and championship is open to all Indians and students of any nationality studying in Indian schools. For further details, contact at 55646693, 55824194 or e-mail at [email protected]


COMMUNITY COVER STORY

Into the sunsetStan Lee’s legacy as a key architect of Hollywood’s dominant genre is

firmly established, write Josh Rottenberg and Ryan Faughnder

He was able to build interconnectedness with the comic books and the characters, and that laid a web, if you will, for the films

— Mary Ann Halford, media strategist ‘ ’TRIBUTE: “Without him, there would have been nothing for us to put on the screen,” says David Maisel, former chairman of Marvel Studios.


COMMUNITYCOVER STORY

By the time the Marvel Cinematic Universe experienced its Big Bang with the 2008 smash Iron Man, Stan

Lee had long since retired from offi cial duties at Marvel, settling into a role as a revered spiritual grandfather to the comic book world, as close to a fl esh-and-blood superhero as fans could hope to get.

But though Lee was no longer actively involved in steering the panoply of characters he had helped create — including Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Hulk, Black Panther, Thor and the Fantastic Four — his legacy as a key architect of what would quickly become Hollywood’s dominant genre was already fi rmly established.

In the decade since Iron Man, Marvel Studios movies, most of which feature Lee’s co-creations, have collectively grossed more than $17 billion worldwide for the Walt Disney Co — and that’s not counting the additional billions brought in over the years by the Spider-Man and X-Men franchises at Sony Pictures and 20th Century Fox, respectively.

“Thank God for Stan Lee creating this universe and these amazing characters,” David Maisel, former chairman of Marvel Studios, told The Times on Monday, as news of Lee’s death at age 95 reverberated around the world. “Without him, there would have been nothing for us to put on the screen.”

Here are three ways Lee helped write the playbook for the modern superhero movie — and, by extension, reshaped the fi lm industry as a whole.

He made superheroes relatable

Until Lee came along, superheroes had generally been much more like Olympian deities than regular people with regular-human problems. But, starting in the 1960s with Fantastic Four, Spider-Man and the Hulk, Lee and co-creator Jack Kirby saw a way to draw in fans with characters who, for all their powers, were plagued by the same fl aws, neuroses, relationship issues and everyday headaches that beset all of us.

As Lee told The Times in 1984, “I thought, suppose there was a guy, Peter Parker, who’s also Spider-Man and he can stick to walls, and spin a web, and has the strength of 12 men. We said just because he can do that doesn’t mean everything would be perfect in his life. We created the fi rst superheroes who weren’t perfect, who worried about paying rent. It was satire — fantasy in a realistic setting.”

Lee’s superheroes lived in the same world as the rest of us, complete with all of its social ills, and their foibles made it that much easier for fans to connect to them. That more naturalistic approach to character — and the wryly comic sensibility Lee brought to it — has continued to shape not only Marvel’s fi lms but also franchises like The Incredibles. And even, it could be argued,

comedies that have nothing to do with capes or spandex.

As Seth Rogen wrote on Twitter on Monday, “Thank you Stan Lee for making people who feel diff erent realise they are special.”

He perfected the concept of the shared universe

Lee didn’t single-handedly create the concept of diff erent characters inhabiting the same world; Disney had its own shared animated Mickey Mouse universe dating to the 1920s, while Universal Studios monsters like Frankenstein and the Wolf Man would periodically pop up in one another’s fi lms. But before Lee came along, comic book characters had, for the most part, been isolated in their own narratives (with the notable exception of DC Comics’ Justice League series uniting Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and other heroes for a specifi c set of stories).

Having established that Marvel’s superheroes primarily lived in our world — many of them in Lee’s native New York — it only made sense to Lee that they would sometimes bump into each other around the neighbourhood. Under his stewardship, Marvel created a sprawling set of interconnected narratives in which one character’s storyline could impact another’s and superheroes could team up to fi ght a common enemy — or, just as often, squabble with one another.

Mary Ann Halford, a New York-based media and entertainment strategist at OC&C Consulting, said Lee’s ability to build out an overlapping tapestry of stories with the comics laid the groundwork for Marvel Studios’ successful run of films. That business model has become the driving force of not only the box office but the small screen as well and has been copied, with varying degrees of success, by other studios — most notably, Warner Bros. with its DC Comics films.

“He was able to build interconnectedness with the comic books and the characters, and that laid a web, if you will, for the fi lms,” she said. Disney will continue to benefi t from that foresight with its upcoming roster of fi lms, including the March release Captain Marvel and May’s Avengers sequel. Its universe is about to get bigger after Disney brings X-Men characters, including Wolverine and Deadpool, into its fold after its $71.3 billion deal to buy Fox, which produces the X-Men movies. “There’s still going to be a tremendous amount of value, and his legacy will live on.”

He was a master of fan connection

No-one worked more tirelessly to cultivate fans than Lee, who was as brilliant at marketing and promotion as he was at creating indelible characters. Under Lee’s leadership, Marvel Comics readers became intimately familiar with the company’s artists and writers,

and throughout the ’60s, Lee wrote a monthly column called Stan’s Soapbox, which he’d often sign with his personal motto, “Excelsior!”

By the time Hollywood started cranking out fi lms based on Marvel characters, comic book fans felt so connected to Lee that he became living, breathing symbol of fandom itself. Lee would go on to make cameo appearances in dozens of fi lms (he will be seen this month, in

animated form, in Disney’s Ralph Breaks the Internet) and showed up at countless fan conventions like Comic-Con, treating fans like friends he just hadn’t met yet.

To this day, Lee’s talent for nurturing Marvel’s fan base has become a model for every studio marketing department when it comes to managing their own franchises, superhero or otherwise.

In an interview with The Times in 2012, Lee drove home

the importance of maintaining that direct connection with fans. For him, it wasn’t simply about making them feel good; it was a critical component in maintaining his success.

“I’ve been in this business so long dealing with fans that I can really, after launching anything, I can tell within a couple of days of receiving the fan mail and fan emails whether or not we’re on the right track,” he said. —Los Angeles Times/TNS

Stan Lee’s superheroes lived in the same world as the rest of us, complete with all of its social ills, and

their foibles made it that much easier for fans to connect to them


COMMUNITY MARKETING

Banana Island Resort Doha wins prestigious awards

La Cigale Hotel chefs excel at the Salon Culinaire competition 2018La Cigale Hotel’s renowned chefs recently excelled during the ‘Salon Culinaire’ competition which was recently conducted as a part of the Hospitality Qatar exhibition that took place at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre for 3 consecutive days. More than 320 leading chefs competed across in twenty-eight categories.La Cigale Hotel Kitchen and Pastry chefs participated in 10 diff erent categories and won 15 exclusive awards. On the first day of the event La Cigale won one gold medal and one bronze medal for best Wedding Cake Live Cooking, respectively.On the second day, La Cigale bagged one gold medal and a trophy for Chocolate Showpiece along with one gold and silver medal and a trophy for Fruit and Vegetable Carving. The hotel also won two bronze medals for Fruit and Vegetable Showpiece and one gold medal for Live Cooking Signature Dish.On the third day of the competition, La Cigale Chefs won one bronze medal for Bread Showpiece, one silver medal for Live Cooking Signature Dish and one Sliver and one Bronze Medals for Ice Carving.The event was concluded with a special trophy presentation to Chef Michael Boongaling, La Cigale Hotel, who was also awarded as Best Artist of the Year 2018.“We are very proud of the outstanding success of our participating chefs whom were all awarded, it was a great opportunity to prove our exceptional hospitality and high standards and to show the high level of professionalism of our chefs,” said Anwar Aboul Hosn, Assistant Director of Marketing at La Cigale Hotel.

Anantara SPA at Banana Island Resort recently won the ‘Qatar’s Best Hotel Spa 2018’ award at the World Spa Awards at luxurious St. Regis Maldives. According to the press release, World Spa Awards recognise, acknowledge and celebrate excellence in spa and wellness tourism around the globe. In yet another victory, Anantara SPA also received the tags of ‘Favourite Resort Spa in Doha 2018’ and ‘Favourite Spa Design’ at OHLALA Spa & Wellness Awards Doha.Anantara SPA at Banana Island Resort by Anantara off ers its guests a comprehensive range of health treatments that reflect the Arabic authentic roots of Qatar, including relaxing bathing and steam experiences, which includes exclusive massage rituals in the traditional Turkish bath. The SPA treatments reflect the life-enhancing benefits of Arab heritage, which work side by side in tandem with the wisdom rituals of Thai therapy that work in relaxing sequences. While the wellness quotient of the Resort has always been its prime highlight, its culinary and gastronomic experience also has many successes in its record. The recently held Haute Grandeur Global Restaurant Awards bestowed the title of the ‘Most Unique Experience’ on a Global Level on Al Nahham Restaurant, which further emphasises its dedication towards off ering the best services to its valued guests.

Al Nahham restaurant is famous for its Arab contemporary design overlooking the Doha horizon. Al Nahham is a unique restaurant where guests and visitors can explore the local culture by indulging into Middle Eastern spices and exotic ingredients, enjoy a soft breeze dining by the sea and under the stars as well as indulge in mouth-watering mezze from around the region, including seafood and mixed grilling. On top of the relishing cuisine, guests can sit back on a one-of-a-kind over water balcony, enjoy shisha and unbeatable hospitality.On the big wins, Emad Nabulsi, Hotel Manager, said, “Anantara Spa at Banana Island Resort Doha has always been the most cherished spa and wellness centres in the country and we are indebted to our guests to show us much love towards the brand and the wellness treatment that we off er. It is because of their constant support that we have been able to sustain our leadership position in the leading spas globally.”He added, “We have always ensured to provide our guests a holistic experience in wellness, luxury stay as well as a truly gourmet experience and the recent Al Nahham’s Haute Grandeur Global Restaurant Awards reflects our vision to off er the best of culinary experience. Receiving such prestigious awards strengthen our conviction towards off ering the best of global wellness treatments and culinary delights to our guests and make them feel special.”


COMMUNITYBOOK REVIEW

COMPELLING: The book has all the required elements of a great memoir; a compelling story, deep introspection, fine writing and an unflinching quest for factual and emotional truth.

MINDFUL: Beard is careful with his mother and siblings in this book. He saves his bitterness for his father whose decision it was for the family to get on with things after the death of his brother.

A profoundly moving study of memory, denial and griefThe Day That Went Missing is an excruciating read as Richard Beard marches towards the

past, seeking out documents and artefacts, the coroner’s report, newspaper clippings, report

cards and old photographs of his brother who died years ago. By Laurie Hertzel

When I was 9 years old, my oldest brother died in an accidental drowning. That was a long time ago, but I still remember tiptoeing

around a house that was sodden in grief, wondering when things would get back to normal even as I knew that they never would.

Richard Beard’s story is worse. He was 11 in 1978, swimming off a Cornish beach with his 9-year-old brother Nicky, when they were both pulled under by a huge wave. Nicky “was out of his depth. He wasn’t and then he was,” Beard writes in the harrowing opening chapter of his memoir, The Day That Went Missing.

Richard was two years older than Nicky, and stronger, and he was able to make it back to the beach. Nicky did not, and he died. Unlike my family, Beard’s family got back to normal almost immediately. “At

the time, there was a pervasive attitude,” Beard’s mother told him years later. “It happened. Get on with it.”

And so they got on with it, went home, buried Nicky, and then returned to the seaside cottage to finish their summer holiday.

They were so good at getting on with it that Beard forgot everything about that day and its aftermath, forgot it, or repressed it. For most of his life, he remembered the moments in the water with devastating clarity but had almost no recollection of anything before, or after. He couldn’t even remember the date it had happened.

When, as an adult, his own life began falling apart, he went on the hunt for these lost memories.

The Day That Went Missing is an excruciating read as Beard stoically marches towards the past, seeking out documents and artefacts, the coroner’s

report, newspaper clippings, report cards and old photographs, as well as Nicky’s schoolwork, toys and jerseys. It’s all in a red trunk in the attic, his mother tells him, but she is wrong. There is no red trunk. Memory, Beard notes, is so often wrong.

To get back to that day, he interviews his mother, and what terrible conversations those must have been, as well as his brothers, teachers, friends and the first responders.

He returns to the holiday cottage and to the beach. As he walks along the cliff path, the ocean comes into view, and, “I start crying. Just like that, no warning,” he says. “I’m blubbering my heart and eyes out, but my legs keep moving, then I call out loud for my mum. I wipe my eyes and pull myself together, because this is the place.”

What is he looking for? Why does he need to remember? “I want to find the missing emotional content in a lost true event,” he

says. “The logistical and emotional truth of what happened may be held in storage in my brain; if I find the route to the correct door, the hidden closet, I can reveal what’s inside.” Finding that truth, he hopes, will be a start toward healing the fissures that have occurred in his life.

Beard is careful with his mother and siblings in this book. He saves his bitterness for his father, now dead, whose decision it was for the family to get on with things.

“I haven’t mourned him, and I did not cry at his funeral. I knew when my dad died to carry on as if nothing awful had happened. A lesson he taught me himself.”

Beard’s book has all the required elements of a great memoir; a compelling story, deep introspection, fine writing and an unflinching quest for factual and emotional truth. This haunting book is a profoundly moving study of memory, denial and grief.– Star Tribune (Minneapolis)/TNS


COMMUNITY PSYCHO

HOW TO SAY IT SILENTLY: Creating art pieces allows people to communicate emotions that are diff icult to say out loud.

A crack in the wall. Most people wouldn’t even notice it. But for Danielle Hark, it was a spark of inspiration. Six

months after giving birth to her fi rst daughter in 2010, Hark, a writer and photographer from Millburn, NJ, fell into a severe depression. Getting out of bed became impossible. Anxiety struck whenever she considered leaving the house. Thoughts of suicide loomed.

One day in the shower, she suddenly felt she couldn’t breathe. “I thought I was dying,” she recalled. “I didn’t need to kill myself because I was about to be dead.” Hark reached for her phone to call for help, but accidentally snapped a photo instead. Then she noticed the crack and thought, “That would make a good picture.”

“Just that one thought and just

that one breath helped me to become more present,” she said.

Photography didn’t cure her depression, but it started her on a journey of recovery, one that she continues today. Taking photographs gets her out of the house, engaging with the world around her, and transforming things that some see as ugly, crumbling paint, cracks in a sidewalk into art.

Hark has founded a website for photographers aff ected by mental illness, hoping to raise awareness and encourage others to document their recovery. On November 10, she’ll be sharing her story at the debut of a chamber music ensemble focused on mental health.

It’s one of a growing number of creative endeavours that are bringing mental health centre stage. Most of these initiatives from theatre performances to local art

shows aim at creating awareness. But for those with mental illness,

such as Hark, who stand at the centre of these works as performers and creators, the process becomes a path to healing. It’s not a cure, but it provides a sense of control over their lives that can sometimes feel lost.

Research shows that engaging in creative-arts therapy, which can include visual arts, dance, theatre, and poetry can reduce pain and anxiety, help people cope with depression and trauma, and aid in treatments for addiction.

Performing in a play or taking photos is not the same as taking part in creative-arts therapy, said Rachel Brandoff , co-ordinator of the art-therapy specialisation in counselling at Thomas Jeff erson University, but ‘it’s a parallel process in many ways.’ Creative-arts therapy involves a trained professional who guides and

interprets the work. But engaging in a creative work on one’s own can still help people fi nd purpose, better understand their emotions, and connect with others.

“People can have a really powerful and transformative experience even if it’s not therapy,” Brandoff said.

Over the years, Hark has used theatre, poetry, and mixed-media art, along with medication and therapy, to deal with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Every night after her children go to sleep, she spends hours in her basement studio, a routine that gives her structure and purpose.

Philadelphia fl utist Susanna Loewy feels the same way about music. Practising scales for an hour each morning helps her energise and refocus when she’s depressed.

Loewy co-founded Ellipses

Ensemble, the mental health-focused concert series at which Hark’s story will be shared. She hopes music might provide a pathway to recovery for some, the way it does for her.

How does creativity help mental health?

Short answer: Researchers don’t know yet. Though they’ve shown creative-arts therapies improve mood and can even lower stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, researchers are still trying to fi gure out how that happens.

Some studies indicate that creating art allows people to communicate emotions that are diffi cult to say out loud. Others point to art’s ability to distract the mind from negative thoughts. Emerging research is focusing on how engaging in creative work

Creative arts can change the wayResearch shows that engaging in creative-arts therapy, which can include visual arts, danc

pain and anxiety, help people cope with depression and trauma, and aid in treatments f

9GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYThursday, November 15, 2018

OLOGY

y people deal with mental illnessce, theatre, and poetry can reduce

for addiction. By Aneri Pattani

improves connections in the brain, a process called neuroplasticity and can even help generate new connections called neurogenesis.

Human brains are constantly thinking about the future, said Girija Kaimal, an assistant professor in the creative-arts therapies department at Drexel University. For those with depression or suicidal thoughts, the future can look bleak. They might feel they are a burden to others or have nothing to contribute. The creative process helps change people’s perspectives.

“It gives individuals with mental illness a way to imagine a positive and fulfi lling future,” she said.

Art also helps people better understand their emotions, like a mirror, refl ecting back what they have created.

When Nick Emeigh sat down to write his story of living with

schizoaff ective disorder, he thought about how to explain the mental illness to someone who’d never heard of it. He searched for the perfect metaphor to describe the overwhelming loneliness and constant fear that no one would understand what he’s going through or they might lock him away.

“You’re able to connect with what you’re actually feeling on a deeper level,” he said, “because you’re looking for the right words to describe to someone who might not understand.”

Emeigh performed the essay in October at an Elkins Park show of This Is My Brave, a national non-profi t that co-ordinates performances around the country in which people with mental illness share their stories through poetry, essays, and music.

Creating a work of art can also

give physical shape to an invisible illness, Brandoff said. People can step outside themselves and turn their diagnosis into a painting or photograph. “It allows them to understand it as a piece of themselves and not themselves entirely,” she said. It took a while for Jasmine Tot to reach that point. She’d often felt depressed in high school, but the illness became consuming when her best friend was killed two days after graduation.

“People didn’t want to be around me because I was always upset or sad,” she said. “That’s when I

realised I have to fi gure this out.”Control came from picking up

a paintbrush. Tot would blend colours, paint large strokes, add detail, and by the end, “I know my emotions are on the canvas and I can move forward,” she said.

One big advantage to creative arts, Brandoff said, is that they can reach more people, those who can’t seek therapy, who think they don’t need it, and even those without an actual diagnosis.

That power was clear to Gabriel Nathan when he put on a play with his colleagues at a psychiatric

hospital in Montgomery County in 2014. Although Nathan deals with anxiety and depression, not all his co-workers had diagnoses. Yet when they performed Our Town, by Thornton Wilder, they all benefi ted.

“We learned to be vulnerable with one another and with an audience,” said Nathan, who now works as editor of a website about mental-illness recovery.

“It let people’s guard down a bit,” he said. “‘Oh, I’m just rehearsing for a play.’ No, you’re not. You’re actually doing more.”– The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

LOWERING STRESS: Creative-arts therapies improve mood and can even lower stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol.

IMPROVING CONNECTIONS: Engaging in creative work improves connections in the brain, a process called neuroplasticity and can even help generate new connections called neurogenesis.


COMMUNITY INFOGRAPHIC


COMMUNITYLIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE

ARIESMarch 21 — April 19

CANCERJune 21 — July 22

LIBRASeptember 23 — October 22

CAPRICORNDecember 22 — January 19

TAURUSApril 20 — May 20

LEOJuly 23 — August 22

SCORPIOOctober 23 — November 21

AQUARIUSJanuary 20 — February 18

GEMINIMay 21 — June 20

VIRGOAugust 23 — September 22

SAGITTARIUSNovember 22 — December 21

PISCESFebruary 19 — March 20

Social events with artistically or spiritually inclined people could have

you feeling especially inspired, Aries, and looking forward to the future

in whatever discipline interests you. You will want to schedule time

alone with that special someone in your life. If you aren’t currently

involved, you could meet someone special today.

A group of people oriented toward artistic, spiritual, or humanitarian

pursuits could meet today at your home to work on advancing their

projects. Among them could be someone very special who might play

a positive role in your life. As a result of this gathering you could find

inspiration to move ahead with personal projects.

Today you should be looking and feeling great, Libra. You might attract

some admiring looks from passersby on the street. You’re likely to want

to spend the day with your special someone. You could also channel

those feelings into creative activities of some kind. Information may

come your way that sets your mental juices flowing. Make the most of

it!

Artistic inspiration could come from deep within at some point today,

perhaps even from a dream or vision. You’re likely to have a lot of

energy to pour into creativity right now, Capricorn, and if you work hard

and don’t lose sight of the business side of the arts, you could move

forward. Don’t be surprised if you suddenly meet the right person to

give you the right advice!

Today you might feel inspired to help others less fortunate, Taurus.

The opportunity to do some volunteer work could come your way,

perhaps for charity, or other humanitarian organisation. Or you could

throw yourself into an artistic discipline. Either way, you’re likely to enjoy

yourself immensely and meet some interesting people in the process.

Fundraising could be involved in some way.

Errands or other short journeys in your neighbourhood could result in a

chance meeting with someone who could be of great benefit to you in

the future, Leo. Opportunities to advance your educational, artistic, or

spiritual interests could open up as a result of this meeting. When you

go out, make sure you look your best even if you’re only going to the

grocery store.

Your mind is full of wonderful thoughts today, Scorpio. You might

consider spending the day meditating, doing some volunteer work,

or turning your inspiration into an artistic project of some kind. Your

intuition is especially high, so you might tune in more acutely than usual

to the thoughts and feelings of others. Take a few minutes during the

day to be alone with your thoughts. You will probably benefit from it.

Today you might toy with the idea of publishing, exhibiting, or

otherwise making public whatever creative innovations you’ve been

working on, Aquarius. Spiritual information could come your way from

afar, perhaps through friends or a group with which you’re aff iliated.

Inspiration of all kinds could pop in and out of your head, so it might be

best to write down your thoughts.

Creativity and relationship are the words for today, Gemini. Artistic

or other creative projects are likely to catch the attention of others,

perhaps bringing valuable contacts your way. As a result, you’re likely

to be inspired to move ahead to new ones. If you’re currently involved,

expect to grow closer to your partner. If you aren’t, you might meet

someone special.

Today you might hear of opportunities to make extra money through

creative work of some kind, Virgo. This could be a genuine lucky break

achieved by being in the right place at the right time. You will probably

take advantage of it, because right now you’re full of inspiration. You

might have a hard time keeping track of all your ideas. Write them

down!

A desire to be creative could have you experimenting with various

kinds of artistic disciplines, perhaps in connection with computers,

Sagittarius. At some point today you could be in the right place at the

right time, receiving just the right help from someone who can point

you in whatever direction you want to go. Ambitious plans could fill

your head and keep your mind buzzing. Make a list! It might help.

Inspiration in various contexts could fill your mind today, Pisces.

Opportunities to advance your artistic or spiritual interests could come

your way, perhaps through advice given by a new acquaintance. You

could also be in the right place at the right time to get a lucky break. You

might want to celebrate your good fortune by getting together with

your partner.

Lack of proper sleep linked to dehydration, says studyA

dults who sleep just six hours per night instead of eight may have a higher chance of suffering

from dehydration, according to a study.

The study highlighted that those who do not feel well after a night of poor sleep are likely to feel dehydrated and may want to consider drinking more water.

Dehydration negatively affects many of the body’s systems and functions, including cognition, mood, physical performance and others. Long term or chronic dehydration can lead to more serious problems, such as higher risk of urinary tract infections and kidney stones.

“If you are only getting six hours of sleep a night, it can affect your hydration status. This study suggests that if you

are not getting enough sleep, and you feel bad or tired the next day, drink extra water,”

said Asher Rosinger, Assistant Professor from the University of Pennsylvania in the US.

For the study, published in the journal SLEEP, the team included more than 20,000 adults and

studied how sleep affected their hydration status and the risk of dehydration.

Participants were surveyed about their sleeping habits, and their urine samples were collected.

Results showed that adults who reported sleeping six hours had significantly more concentrated urine and 16 to 59 per cent higher odds of being inadequately hydrated compared to adults who slept eight hours on a regular basis at night.

The cause was linked to the way the body’s vasopressin — a hormone — is released to help regulate the body’s hydration status throughout the day, as well as during night-time sleeping hours.

All data is observational, therefore, the association results should not be viewed as causal, the researchers said. — IANS


COMMUNITY CARTOONS/PUZZLES

Adam

Pooch Cafe

Garfield

Bound And Gagged

Codeword

Wordsearch

Every letter of the alphabet is used at least once. Squares with the same number in have the same letter in. Work out which number represents which letter.

Puzz

les

cour

tesy

: Puz

zlec

hoic

e.co

m

Sudoku

Sudoku is a puzzle based

on a 9x9 grid. The grid is

also divided into nine (3x3)

boxes. You are given a

selection of values and to

complete the puzzle, you

must fill the grid so that

every column, every anone

is repeated.

Contend

ARGUEASSERTBATTLEBRAWLCOMBATCOMPETECONFLICT

CONTESTCOPEDEALDEBATEDIFFERFIGHTJOSTLE

OPPOSEPLEAREASONSCUFFLESQUABBLESTRUGGLETUSSLE

WAGEWITHWRANGLEWRESTLE


COMMUNITYPUZZLES

Colouring

Answers

Wordsearch Codeword

ACROSS1. What the alarm clock gives?

(6,7)

8. A lead for a dog (7)

9. As I found out, putting it in

withers the flowers (7)

11. Doing a cartwheel round the

soldier, is really pathetic (6)

13. As before, run after the

animal (8)

15. Starts by taking round the

prisons (5)

16. A former (now rather fat)

model (7)

18. Is it sheer half a mile to the

high point? (7)

19. Consequently states he was

a composer (5)

21. How one dislikes bluff

people? (8)

23. Does the little creature pad

about in the wood? (6)

25. A new version of, in colour

‘The Lifesaver’ (7)

26. Be left at home, their having

gone out (7)

28. In which the blue-bird feels at

home? (7-6)

Super Cryptic Clues

Yesterday’s Solutions

Across: 1 Partridge; 8 Damosel; 9 Gambles; 10 Asunder; 13 Abridges; 14 Near; 16 The East End; 20 Send; 22 Spar; 24 Paddy-field; 28 Snap; 29 Bavarian; 31 Posters; 34 Growers; 35 Example; 36 Patiently.

Down: 1 Pageant; 2 Remorse; 3 Riled; 4 Descent; 5 Edna; 6 Down; 7 Blurted; 11 Sundry; 12 Dare; 15 Asti; 17 Hop 18 Earn; 19 Supper; 21 Nil; 22 Stopper; 23 Asks; 25 Draught; 26 Eminent; 27 Dynasty; 30 Arose; 32 Time; 33 Step.

DOWN2. Copy it, taking a ridiculous

time about it (7)

3. Put away in the bottom of 2,

folded up (3)

4. Measure up, in the day-light

(4)

5. Be doubly helpful (3,3,4)

6. Feature one in ‘The Hue and

Cry’(5)

7. Order 6 out, to be offensive

(7)

8. Combined to assemble (3,8)

10. When you collect your

thoughts, notice you have a

good hand (3,8)

12. Copy the children (5)

14. Drunken Italian getting into a

plane.... (10)

17. .... beyond having a sample of

his country’s cooking (5)

18. Wrap up and go off to

quarters (7)

20. Suffer though anaesthetised

and given a shot (7)

22. The many about to catch the

ship (5)

24. Regard as a prospect (4)

27. Stopped ted following him (3)


COMMUNITY REVIEWS

By Michael Phillips

Can two New Yorkers share a turquoise Cadillac on a tour of the Deep South without driving each other crazy?

Apologies to the opening credits of the TV sitcom The Odd Couple, but that’s the pertinent question in Green Book, a diff erent

(yet familiar) odd-couple heart-warmer directed by Peter Farrelly of Dumb and Dumber and There’s Something About Mary fame. A crowd-pleasing hit at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, the movie may not be accurate history (welcome to the movies!). It may not even be particularly interested in one of its two main characters, for various reasons.

But with actors as wily as Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali, plus a ringer we’ll get to a minute, the quality of the material matters less than usual.

In 1962, the African-American concert pianist and recording artiste Don Shirley embarked on a concert tour of the Midwest and the South, chauff eured by Italian-American Tony Vallelonga. Better known as ‘Tony Lip’ around the Bronx, and in the vicinity of the Copacabana nightclub where he worked as a bouncer, Shirley’s record label hired Vallelonga as driver. In many towns the performer was legally barred from staying in hotels wide open to whites. The AAA-style Negro Motorist Green Book, a guide to aff ordable lodging for Afro-American motorists travelling in institutionally

segregated times, gives director Farrelly’s cheerfully fi ctionalised account its title.

To play Tony Lip, Mortensen bulked up considerably. When he’s behind the wheel of the ‘62 Caddy, it’s like watching a big car driven by a slightly smaller one. Mortensen, not known for broad or even subtle comedy (the movie favours the former), works hard at behaving like a semblance of a real person in a real place and time. Some of the details catch your eye, such as the way he fi shes a Lucky Strike out of a half-smoked pack while doing something else, or his method of folding an entire pizza into a handy wise-guy-sized bite.

The movie’s Bronx sequences may not look or feel anything like anything within 500 miles of New York City (they shot the picture in New Orleans). But we’re not in the land of realism here. Farrelly works well with actors but Tony’s friends and family skirt one sort of caricature, while the Dixie racists making the road tour diffi cult for Shirley and The Lip edge toward another.

Green Book relies almost entirely on the interplay between Mortensen and Ali. It’s a car-based journey of discovery, begun on a note

of mutual wariness, ending on an affi rmative fl ourish of true friendship. The movie sets its chosen tone at the beginning, establishing Tony Lip’s ingrained, casual-seeming prejudice with lingering close-ups of Mortensen throwing away drinking glasses used by a couple of African-American repairmen working in the family kitchen. The movie charts one lovable lug’s enlightenment, while Shirley himself remains a remote, diffi dent enigma – the fastidious, uptight Felix to Mortensen’s Oscar Madison.

The movie’s lean toward Tony Lip and his universe is no surprise, given that the script comes from Nick Vallelonga (Tony’s son), director Farrelly and Brian Currie. On the other hand: The focus gives the fabulous Linda Cardellini (as Dolores, Tony’s wife) some welcome screen time. The actress lends easy warmth and honestly earned sentiment to the Bronx scenes, and when she, Ali and Mortensen fi nally share a scene in the fi nale, hearts will warm and tears will fl ow. Director Farrelly knows a narrative gold mine when he sees one. And he knows enough to stay out of his actors’ way. – Chicago Tribune/TNS

Widows elevates pulpy political

thriller to high artBy Katie Walsh

Steve McQueen wants to make you look. His achingly long takes in Twelve Years a Slave forced viewers

to confront the harsh realities of slavery; his gaze teased and tortured us in equal measure in the addiction drama Shame. With Widows, a masterfully made female-driven heist film, McQueen’s camera both directs and distracts the eye, connecting characters with long takes while lulling viewers into a trance before an explosion of violence. In this genre exercise, McQueen seems to be saying look again, look harder, because underneath the roiling tension of big money heists and the crunching of political gears is an examination about the ugly machinations of power, money and patriarchy.

McQueen has teamed up with Gone Girl and Sharp Objects writer Gillian Flynn to adapt the 1980s British TV crime series written

by Lynda La Plante for the big screen. Flynn’s story trademarks are in place: flinty yet vulnerable women, story twists galore. Fused with McQueen’s unflinching eye, the pulpy political thriller is elevated to high art, while the bold, brash criminal capers inject a shot of adrenaline into the British auteur’s style. A heart-stopping opening heist sequence toggles between extreme violence and intimate sensuality, laying the blueprint for the pattern that repeats throughout the film.

The widows in question are Veronica (Viola Davis), Alice (Elizabeth Debicki), Linda (Michelle Rodriguez) and Amanda (Carrie Coon). Their husbands are killed during a sloppy, bloody run from the police after stealing $2 million, leaving their women adrift, penniless and with no means of generating their own income. Linda’s dress shop is repossessed by the loan sharks collecting on her husband’s gambling debts, and Alice has never worked a day in her life. Veronica starts to feel the pressure from the campaign of Jamal

Manning (Brian Tyree Henry), running to be the first Afro-American alderman of Chicago’s 18th ward against the established, corrupt white candidate Jack Mulligan (Colin Farrell). Jamal claims the $2 million came from his war chest and expects it back. His terrifying brother, Jatemme (Daniel Kaluuya), isn’t afraid to shed blood for it either.

Harry (Liam Neeson), Veronica’s late husband, has left her a ledger with notes for his next heist, so she assembles her team of hapless wives and mothers. “The best thing we have going for us is who we are,” she tells them, so they use their womanly wiles to get what they need to pull this off. It’s not exactly the tough girl female action hero content we expect (though Cynthia Erivo’s Belle brings a muscular physicality), but rather an exploration of just how a group of women restrained by social expectations might realistically pull this off.

The measured marathon of tension punctuated by moments of shocking violence operates

on macro and micro levels. The film examines the relationship of money and power structurally and intimately. Within the nepotistic local politics of Chicago, dynasties reign, lining their pockets with hollow gestures of equality while enforcing systems of violence. On an intimate, domestic level, women are cuffed by their roles

as wives. But they’re not wives anymore, they’re widows, and so much of their journey is learning how to navigate this unfriendly world without a man. It’s not easy, but the vision of a matriarchy McQueen and Flynn imagine, headed up by a magnetically simmering Davis, is hard-fought and well-earned. – TNS

Green Book is a car-based journey of discovery

Thursday, November 15, 2018 15GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYSHOWBIZ

Ireland Baldwin called ‘looter’ amidst California wildfi re

Model Ireland Baldwin has claimed the police accused her of ‘looting’ when she tried to get back to her house in Malibu amidst the raging California wildfi re.

Baldwin, daughter of actors Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger, took to Twitter to share the incident among her social media followers. She alleged that she wasn’t allowed to enter her home as she did not have the correct address on her identifi cation card, according to hollywoodreporter.com

“Yesterday I spent all day long trying to get back to my place in Malibu to gather a couple of my things before the winds were expected to pick back up. An offi cer at a back way entrance to one of the main canyons that take you over to Malibu stopped us and refused to let us in because I don’t have my Malibu address on my ID.

“Not only was he a rude, but he had zero compassion and he literally accused us of being looters and threatened us that we were going to be arrested if we kept giving him trouble,” she tweeted.

The 23-year also revealed that her mother Kim and her partner lost their home in the massive fi re, which also destroyed the houses of celebrities like Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke.

“So many friends and family of friends are losing everything they own in these fi res. My mom and her partner lost their Malibu home in the Woolsey Fire and thankfully, they are both safe,” Baldwin added. – IANS

Snoop Dogg to get star onHollywood Walk of Fame

Rapper Snoop Dogg will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on November 19.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced that the Who am I singer will be honoured with the 2,651st star on Hollywood Boulevard, in front of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, reports variety.com

Jimmy Kimmel will be on hand to honour Snoop Dogg. He will be joined by Leron Gubler, president and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which administers the stars.

“Snoop is one of those people who can do anything. He raps, he acts, he hosts a television show, he cooks, and helps community kids with his philanthropic work. He is a man of the ages and we welcome him to our Hollywood Walk of Fame,” said Ana Martinez, producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Snoop is also known as a pioneer of the G-funk hip-hop sub-genre, which he helped popularise along with Dr Dre. Throughout his career, Snoop has produced chart-topping hits like Gin and juice, Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ thang, Drop it like it’s hot, Sensual seduction and more. – IANS

NEUTRAL: Sara Ali Khan has a neutral approach towards competition with Janhvi Kapoor.

SUSPECT: Ireland Baldwin is accused by the police of ‘looting’ when she tried to get back to her house in Malibu.

HONOUR: Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will be honouring Snoop Dogg with the 2,651st star on Hollywood Boulevard.

Debutante Sara Ali Khan, daughter of Bollywood actors Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh, has a neutral approach towards

competition with Janhvi Kapoor, who made her Bollywood foray with Dhadak earlier this year.

Sara is stepping into the acting world with Kedarnath.

During the fi lm’s trailer launch on Monday, Sara was asked if she feels the pressure to win the Best Debutant Award over Janhvi this year.

Sara replied confi dently: “All of us are here to do our job and no one can decide anything on what is going to happen next. I think she has done a fantastic job in Dhadak. I watched the fi lm and I loved it. People loved her work. I hope people will like my work too.”

Coming from a family of actors that includes not only her parents, but also grandmother Sharmila Tagore and aunt Soha Ali Khan, the young actress said that initially, her parents emphasised that she must fi nish her studies before entering Bollywood.

“My father wanted me to fi nish my studies before entering the fi lm industry. My parents were supportive all through (for me) to work in fi lms, but education was a priority. But when I heard the story of Kedarnath, I loved the script so much that at that time nobody could have stopped me from doing the fi lm. I was in love with the story. So they also did not stop me, and rather supported it,” Sara said.

In Kedarnath, Sara plays a Hindu girl from Uttarakhand. She falls in love with a Muslim man – played by Sushant Singh Rajput – during the journey to Kedarnath, a Hindu pilgrim centre.

Asked about her mother’s view on Sara’s performance, she said: “I think it would be very diffi cult for my mom to be unbiased because I am her baby. She will love everything that I do. I also look like her, so you know, she wishes me the best and she hopes that the audience loves my work.”

Kedarnath will release on December 7, and Sara will then soon be seen in another fi lm, Ranveer Singh-starrer Simmba which will hit the screens on December 28.

Is she feeling any pressure?“Yes, we can say that there is a

pressure because two fi lms are on the row, but there are some advantages also which I cannot deny. I have got two fi lms and I am really lucky to ask for work from fi lmmakers like Abhishek Kapoor sir and Rohit Shetty sir. I have tried my level best to justify the opportunity,” said Sara.

What are the tips she has got from Kareena Kapoor Khan, the second wife of her father Saif, Sara said: “Kareena is a very professional lady and the way she works with so much dedication is very amazing. So I would love to imbibe her professionalism.”

“I stay with my mom so she tells me what to wear on which occasion and keeps giving me tips on how to take care of myself.” – IANS

All of us are here to do a job: Sara

“My father wanted me to finish my studies before

entering the film industry. My

parents were supportive all

through (for me) to work in films, but education was a

priority. But when I heard the story

of Kedarnath, I loved the script so much that at that

time nobody could have stopped me

from doing the film. I was in love with the story. So they also did not

stop me, and rather supported it”


COMMUNITY

It’s true, there’s nothing ordinary about this hair pro. From her craft to her long, braided hair, the woman knows how to set herself apart. Her mother never went to a salon after she styled her hair for the

fi rst time when she was only 10. Her passion for hairstyle and braiding grew with her in Bulawayo, a city in Zimbabwe.

Precious Gudza, now herself mother of a 10-year-old girl, has come a long way in pursuit of her passion for doing the hair-dos for African women. She learnt the traditional ways and styles in Zimbabwe. She got an opportunity to modernise and diversify her skills in Cape Town, South Africa. Now, the hair stylist is eying to internationalise her skills in Qatar.

Precious is also interested in what kids are wearing on the street than what’s cool on the catwalk right now, which is often refl ected in her work on the runway, on the red carpet, and in the pages of fashion magazines.

Community recently sat down with the stylist to talk about her ‘karuka’ skills, traditional word in Shona language used for hair braiding or weaving, her journey to modern hairstyles and her future goals and aspirations.

About her love for hair-dos she said that she started taking interest in hairstyling when she was in a boarding school. “I started to build up my clientele when I was in school. Whenever I used to get back home during vacations, girls and women would come to me for braiding and

hair weaving,” she said. “My fi rst client was my mother. She trusted me and allowed me to style her hair when I was only 10 and she never went to salon after that,” Precious said smilingly.

“I started with kuruka when I was eight-year-old. I used to see girls at school and always thought that I can style their hair in a much better way. Now my 10-year-old daughter also knows how to do hair. She styles my mother’s hair as she lives with her grandparents.”

Regarding her self-learning, Precious said, “I must say it has been a very interesting journey. It has been very diverse. First, I moved to South Africa and now I am in Qatar. The way we do hair in Zimbabwe is very diff erent from the way they do it in South Africa. Moving

to South Africa was challenging. I struggled there because I had to learn more techniques. It took me a while; I used to spend extra hours in the salon only to learn. The experience of working in Johannesburg has changed my life completely. Later, I moved to Cape Town where things actually happened for me.”

She was in Cape Town when she ventured into other hair styles including Caucasian hair and straight hair besides doing ethnic styles, cornrows, dreadlocks and twists. “When I started doing non-African hair, I also got a chance to work with entertainment and fashion industry. I worked with commercial and TV models. I also started working independently, attending my own clients.

Speaking about her experience in Doha, Precious said, “For me Doha is another change. A friend of mine, already working here, pushed me to come to Qatar. In Africa, everyone is more or less doing the same thing. I’m interested to get an insight into diff erent hairstyles adapted in diff erent regions of the world. I came to Doha in 2014. Initially I started working at a restaurant. During my restaurant job, I met a salon owner who invited me to work for him. I also work independently.”

She fi nds Doha a very diverse place. The diversity has pushed her to be a better hairstylist. “I have no choice other than to be a better stylist. That has helped me a lot. I have never seen the quality of service that I see here in Doha. However when it comes to doing hair for African women, there are few choices here. I plan to tap the opportunity. I carry a tradition and I want to share it with the world. Here is my chance. Hair of ethnic African people are not easily done. They need a specialist for their hair.” She loves safe and secure life in Qatar and enjoys living here.

Precious dreams of opening a salon in Qatar where she particularly wants to take care of women with ethnic African backgrounds. “In our traditional style, we use extensions to grow our hair. Naturally, our hair grows very slowly. Our hair is our crown. With the help of braiding we can improve our hair.”

The hair chameleon Precious Gudza, Zimbabwean hairstylist in Doha, talks about her ‘karuka’ skills, her

journey to modern hairstyles and her future goals and aspirations with Mudassir Raja

FINAL LOOK: The final hair look of Precious’ clients. Photos supplied

MAESTRO: Precious is an expert for Caucasian hair and straight hair besides doing ethnic styles, cornrows, dreadlocks and twists.

Documents

Lee’s legacy