Take A Seat

Let’s Talk

Growing up in regional NSW, I was the little girl who religiously read the local newspaper twice a week every week. Almost two decades on, and the same newspaper I learnt to read with is now dead. Information within my hometown is reported in a Facebook group by a barista with no media training leaving the community susceptible to misinformation. Not only is this extremely dangerous, but it also breaks my heart. Every Australian, regardless of geographical location, has a right to access credible news. It makes me so incredibly angry that it took the worst drought in NSW for metropolitan media to report on regional issues. My passion for regional Australia and journalism keeps me up at night, but it also drives me to push for change.

So, what makes you mad? What keeps you up at night? If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be? Welcome to ‘Take A Seat’. This edition aims to encourage Bondies to do one of two things; take a seat at the table to vocalise your opinions or to take a seat and read the thoughts of another. If you’re flicking through this edition, you’ve chosen the latter, and trust me; you won’t be disappointed. I hope that in some way, shape or form, this edition can challenge you to consider a new perspective or maybe even vocalise your own.

If old-school dating isn’t entirely cutting it, take a seat and think twice about swiping right on Tinder (page 12). If you’re a pineapple-on-pizza-loving gal like myself, challenge your palate on page 25. Read about the Great Australian Dream on page 21 and get the inside scoop on page 26 of Bond’s best event of the year. Good news if you’re a crossword lover! Page 29 is for you!! Don’t skip page 19; you’ll want to read about the Decimation of the Humanities in Australia and the Roman Empire. Hear a new perspective on Theatres and Netflix (page 17) and consider the value of True Leadership on page 23. Don’t Tell Me to Smile on page 15 and ask yourself if we can Joke About this, page 9. Follow your passion on page 11 and Get Home Safe with 20 top tips on page 6. Spot a familiar face on pages 30-35.

I want to thank the phenomenal group of Bondies who contributed to this edition of BOUND. From students studying TESOL, Business, and Law to Film and TV, BOUND is a creative outlet for everyone regardless of degree. It is a platform for students to share their stories, photography, designs and more. A place to vocalise your passion, advocate for what matters to you, and take a seat at the table. As the next generation, we are responsible for speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves. We must demand a seat at the table, if not for us, for generations to come. We must never be silenced. Finally, if the fantastic work of these Bondies has inspired you, consider contributing to the next edition of BOUND. Love to travel? BOUND wants to see and hear about all of your out-of-town adventures. I believe the most ordinary people often have the most extraordinary stories.

Till next time,

Get Home

ONLINE & READY TO GO? WHERE’S THE PARTY AT? HEELS OR SNEAKERS? WHERE’S MY DRINK?

Charge your phone before you leave to ensure you can call anyone at anytime.

5 NOT FEELING IT?

Let people know where you’re going. Party in groups and know the bouncer’s name.

WHAT’S THE CODEWORD?

Trust your gut feeling. If something is off, it is off. Have a codeword and exit strategy just in case.

9 CAN YOU HEAR ME?

See someone you don’t want to talk to? Pretend you’re on the phone and walk towards people you know.

Heels look hot, but if you need to run sneakers are way more practical.

7 ARE YOU COMING?

If your original plan didn’t work out, know when to call it a night. If Suzie wants to stay longer you don’t have to.

8 WHERE’S MY KEY?

It is nice to have a drink but keep an eye on it! Better yet, choose a drink and finish it before stepping back on the dance floor! Stay hydrated while dancing the night away. Have some snacks or a proper lunch before you hit the town!

Don’t look for your keys in front of your door with your back to the street. Have them ready in your hand before you get out of the car.

10 NEED A DANCE PARTNER?

People you don’t know getting a little too close? Regroup with your friends and don’t hesitate to dance to the other side of the floor.

QLD POLICE - PARTY SAFE

If your party is getting out of control or you need help. Call your local police station or Policelink 131 444

Home Safe

Words: Sandra Adiarte

WHERE’S TRISH? WHO LEFT THIS MESS?

If someone is partying a little too hard, take care of them. Take responsibility.

15 CAN I GET ANOTHER?

Only if you’re NOT driving! Look out for each other and know your limits. Dance with the cutie and forget the drink.

THIS PLACE OKAY?

Be loud and scream if you need to draw attention to yourself. Maybe invest in a safety keychain?

YOU WANNA FIGHT?

Keep your hallway clean and mess free. It’ll make your stumble through the door safer. Stay away from ugly discussion and trouble makers. No one looks good with a scar!

19 SHALL WE DO IT ANYWAYS?

It is getting hot and clothes might be coming off, but remember consent. Use protection and be safe.

17 TAKE MY BAG?

Don’t hold a stranger’s bag.

You don’t know what is in there. Politeness is good, but it can put you in a bad spot.

SORRY, DO I KNOW YOU?

If the place doesn’t feel right don’t leave the car. Go to a club you know is okay. Is it love at first sight, or alcohol? Remember you don’t have to go home with someone on the first night.

20 CAN I TAKE A PIC OF YOU?

People you don’t know can’t take photos or videos of you. Remember you can choose where and when you want to be a star.

BOND SECURITY

If you ever find yourself in an uncertain situation, feel unsafe or are a victim of sexual assult or harrassment Bond Security is available 24/7. +61 5595 1234

Using jokes cope is but I don’t want to desensitised to the suffering of human beings.

jokes to easy, don’t be desensitised suffering human

Waking up to the smell of floodwater in your bedroom, your black Nike slides resembling a partially submerged turtle floating two feet above your carpet is a fairly sh**ty way to start your day. Seeking shelter in a subway station as bomb sirens scream in the distance is an experience that follows you forever, especially when you’re only halfway through fourth grade. Living for the better part of 84 years only to be hit with another global health crisis, as if the last century didn’t have enough to satisfy. These experiences are not individual to me, but I think I’m situated in the privileged position of living in the time of major historical events while being so far removed from them, I can write an article about how f**king absurd everything feels in a university magazine, especially when I am watching it all unfold primarily through the lens of social media.

To end the second month of 2022, nature – in the words of esteemed poet DaBaby - “dropped enough tears to fill up a f**kin’ bucket”, or in this case, the Wivenhoe Dam. This has devastated thousands of homes as families scramble to save whatever they can, while the torrential rains claim lives and displace many others. To distract us from this disaster, we watched with confusion and disbelief as Putin ordered troops into the Ukraine. Luckily, Russia was slapped with sanctions, including the disqualification of the Russian Eurovision representatives – yes, Eurovision prevails despite the continuation of a literal pandemic and the fact that no one except the French cares about Eurovision. In a development no one could have predicted, Putin is not recalling his forces, leaving the rest of us to cling desperately to whatever is left of the rope of normality.

I don’t think there is a correct way to respond to events that are out of our control, especially if you don’t have the tools to fix the issue. However empathy is paramount. Focus on what you can do, if you can do anything. The world has enough conflict.

As a child of the digital age, I watch world events through my phone. The internet is unsurprisingly vacuous when it comes to war, disease and natural disaster. Social media numbs your feelings of outrage and shame while simultaneously ensuring you are overwhelmed by feelings of outrage and shame. It is only natural to filter out the content we don’t have the emotional capacity for, and it is easier to acquire cheap two-second laughs at each emotional checkpoint. Your brain needs a reward for being such a well-rounded global citizen, here’s a video of Hasbulla edited into a Russian tank because you sat through fifty videos of actual Russians invading Ukraine and shared it on your Instagram story to spread awareness. But when you’re in an entirely different hemisphere and all you have is the internet, what else can you really do? Is it better to ignore the issue or post about it –whichever you choose will be met with criticism.

What if what you post with genuine concern, hoping your message will spread far and wide, is this not a valid medium? Who determines what is genuine? Do you know if your post is genuine?

When you are connected enough to type a comment but far away from danger, it’s too easy to screen-record yourself DMing Putin’s Instagram “pwease vladdy daddy dont invade the world!!!! the last ep of euphoria isnt out yet <3 <3” and post it on TikTok for viral validation. Objectively disingenuous comedy still holds comedic value because it is absurd.

I have the privilege to make jokes online about World War Three ruining my chances of being a DILF with #ripukraine as the primary tag, and I won’t bat an eye as I watch the raw footage broadcasted on prime-time news channels because that is the Gen Z experience. Is it our fault this is our reality? Maybe. We’re completely desensitized to conflict, as it’s livestreamed on the same platforms we use for entertainment. I hope we can collectively acknowledge how blurred that line has become.

If I witness an alien invasion before I die, I swear I’ll download Twitter just to post a clever combination of words that can be immortalized on the Internet. Ideally, the Internet will be mentioned briefly by alien scholars; maybe they build us a pity museum and, obviously, my hilarious Tweet will be projected in the Milky Way as the courtesy shuttle spacecraft hovers next to Earth for a brief show-and-tell.

The Ukrainian Twitter page is an example of ‘The joke about a terrible thing is not the terrible thing itself’, and if a government on the brink of collapse uses humour to boost morale, who are to attack @lushylushspice for posting a harmless video, right? Sure, it’s easy to joke to cope, but I kind of, like, don’t want to be desensitised to, like, the suffering of human beings anymore, you feel me bro? Instead, what I do to calm myself down after checking my feed, is indulge in applying an absurdist lens to what I am experiencing. I want to believe that what I am experiencing. I want to believe that is the intent behind the creation of #darkhumour posts I stumble across. If I ruminate on how wilfully ignorant we are, and how critical thought is abandoned to post anything for that rush of dopamine, I might just post a little content of my own – maybe about ingesting some not-so-user-friendly cleaning products because I simply give up on trying to be PC. Trust me, I am well accustomed to dark humour.

As I click a BBC article entitled “The Ukraine conflict: Citizen volunteers take up arms to fight Russian invasion”, I read about politicians, farmers, and university students preparing to defend their country and I am smacked so hard with humility’s right hand I’m forced to remind myself I am nothing more than a bit on the hard drive of humanity’s existence. This is so I don’t doom scroll until I hate myself for reasons I can’t control. I’m not sure if this is wilful ignorance.

“This is Earth! Its near extinct sentient life has resided on Mars since they drove their planet into an unhabitable state. Even though Earth was objectively better for their evolutionary process, humans lack the intellectual capability to care for their environment, so we have placed their planet in captivity while it regains the ability to foster any living organism.” The aliens staring out the window of the spacecraft will be fascinated by the beauty of our former planet, but not without the nagging feeling that it shouldn’t be this way. It’s like when you see a dolphin at Sea World; you know it was bred in captivity and wouldn’t last second in the wild, yet all you can think about releasing it into the wild.

Maybe, when I’m watching these aliens from somewhere in the cosmos, I’ll think to myself, “Thank gosh I lived to post about the alien invasion of 2038! Now I get to see my viral Tweet projected to said aliens as a primary source of how humans handled discussing invasions online in the form of a joke. Nothing like receiving validation from beyond the grave.”

However, empathy is paramount. There will always be those who use comedy to cope with tragic events, and those that believe it requires a more solemn response. Neither are necessarily wrong, but the melting pot of judgement on social media often detracts attention from the issue at hand. Focus on what you can do, if you want to do anything. The world has enough conflict.

“I CHOOSE TO EDUCATE MYSELF, BUT THIS IS PRIVILEGE: I HAVE THE CHOICE TO DO NOTHING AND SUFFER NO CONSEQUENCES.”

“DESPITE EVERYTHING MEANING NOTHING, SHOULD THERE STILL BE PARAMETERS ON WHAT IS OK TO JOKE ABOUT?”

“I DON’T THINK THERE IS A CORRECT WAY TO RESPOND TO EVENTS THAT ARE OUT OF OUR CONTROL, ESPECIALLY IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE TOOLS TO FIX THE ISSUE.”

Follow your Passion

a ought

I believe there is a significant difference between our passion, and what we are passionate about. While differing by merely three letters, I believe the significance of difference, if properly understood, is much more than just that. Think about your passion. Then, think about what you are passionate about. Did anything change? Personally, my passion is health, and I am passionate about learning. In my opinion, this small spelling difference juxtaposes a ‘thing’, against an exhilarating, fulfilling and selfrealising pursuit of purpose.

My passion for health is grounded by the opportunity to help, heal, serve and solve. These values, and this passion, are importantly fuelled by what I am passionate about - learning. If I wasn’t passionate about learning, I wouldn’t feel so strongly about medical school, nor would I have undergone the selfexploration journey which I have to identify my values and their significant alignment with working in medicine and health, let alone be taking the time to reflect and write this piece.

With that in mind, I think the significance of what we are passionate about, surpasses our passions. With very possible exceptions, I believe our passions are more volatile, and can change with time. While what we are passionate about, and truly value, is more static and resistant to change because of its underlying influence on our everyday. My intrinsic values and what I am passionate about (learning, serving and facilitating positive change), will withstand the barriers of my profession (or passion), flexibly emerging in any pursuit, be it in health or not - provided I am true to myself.

I will admit my perspective on passion is likely a product of my current environment, where each ostreoidea-covered door seems ajar. Through this I acknowledge my significant privilege, and I will always endeavour to express my gratitude for the wealth of opportunities around me. Particularly, for their influence in deep contemplation, new creation and personal connection. From focusing on what I am passionate about, my life has flipped. I’m certain, that should I maintain this center, my zenith will remain; it is not going to pass(i)on quickly.

Words by Jackson Miller

swiping right for

Therise of online dating apps has detrimental effects on users’ self-esteem and the formation of their relationships. In recent years, the use of online dating apps has increased tremendously. In particular, Tinder has more than 50 million global users in 196 countries. On average, users log in 11 times a day and spend between seven to nine minutes swiping through potential matches each time they open the app. The development of modern dating apps has changed many people’s lives, impacting their intimacy. Modern dating apps can also be beneficial as they enable people to express their sexual identity and initiate romantic relationships.

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Apps like Tinder can also have detrimental effects on young people, their self-esteem, and the development of romantic relationships.

Research that proves the use of Tinder has introduced a new pressure on self-presentation, causing a significant decrease in self-esteem, particularly in younger users of the app. It has created new dating dissolution strategies and impacted the fundamental stages of building a relationship. In a 2016 qualitative study conducted by Jessica Strübel, 1,044 women and 273 men completed questionnaires about their use of Tinder. This study analysed their body image, sociocultural factors, perceived objectification and psychological well-being. Approximately 10% reported using Tinder. Both male and female users reported less satisfaction with their appearance than non-users. Only male Tinder users reported lower levels of self-esteem.

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Involvement with Tinder, regardless of the user’s gender, was associated with body dissatisfaction, body shame, body monitoring, internalisation of societal expectations of beauty, comparing oneself physically to others, and reliance on media for information about appearance and attractiveness.

Whether Tinder users download the app for entertainment, an egoboost, or to find a relationship, these motivations occasionally change over

time. Regardless of their motivation, all participants carefully select a profile picture to present an ideal and desirable yet authentic self. Modern online dating apps have altered the stages of individuals’ experiences during a relationship. Studies on relationship escalation, continuation, and de-escalation have provided crucial information on how relationships can be sustained, the challenges of maintaining them, and the impact on the emotions the process may have on individuals. New dating dissolution strategies have emerged and been amplified through Tinder’s use in recent times. “Ghosting”, in particular, is described as one-sidedly cutting off all contact with someone and ignoring all efforts to reach out. Although ghosting can be similar to other traditional breakup strategies, it occurs more often in contemporary society.

Through the introduction of Tinder and other mediated communication, people can easily reject unwanted suiters by deleting, unmatching, ignoring, or blocking the other person. The level of commitment of an individual to a relationship depends on how satisfied the individual is with the costs and rewards present in the relationship, investment into the relationship, and a comparison with other potential alternative relationships. These dating dissolution strategies can be attributed to the Social Exchange Theory.According to social exchange theory, people often assess their relationships regarding rewards and costs.

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People constantly aim to maximise rewards and minimise the costs of their relationships.

When users decide that the costs outweigh the rewards of beginning a relationship with someone they meet online, the typical resolution for these people is to partake in “Ghosting”. Whitty (2008) argues that social exchange theory could explain why people often use online dating with an approach of finding someone who checks all of their boxes, similar to a “shopping list”. Users attempt to find people who possess as many positive qualities as possible to aim that their relationship will be more rewarding in the end. The outcomes in their current relationship must also

outweigh the potential consequences of a relationship with someone else on Tinder who may be better. There are unlimited options on Tinder, so it is crucial to consider one’s expectations from previous relationships to foresee how satisfied they may be in their relationship; the outcomes must match or exceed one’s expectations.

The value people hold in the dating market is determined by many characteristics such as beauty, intelligence, social status and wealth. This potential for matches to constantly weigh up the costs and benefits of each person they match with contributes heavily to declining users’ self-esteem. Due to the way the app works, Tinder uers often begin to fell depersonalised and disposable in their social interactions. Studies found that the use of Tinder, regardless of the user’s gender, is associated with body dissatisfaction, body shame, body monitoring, internalisation of societal expectations of beauty, comparing oneself physically to others, and reliance on media for information on appearance and attractiveness.

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An individual’s commitment to a relationship depends on how satisfied they are with the costs and rewards assoicated with the relationship.

They tend to develop more awareness and criticism of their looks. Users often believe there is always someone better coming up and constantly question their worth. The ris of Tinder can be attributed to the Uses and Gratifications Theory, as the app helps meet the user’s physical, social, and psychosocial needs. Dating apps increase the potential for matches to constantly way up the costs and benefits of each person. Commitment is also influenced by the investment in a relationship and a comparison of other potential alternative matches. Social Exchange Theory explains why people often use online dating to find someone who checks all of their boxes.Therefore, the use of Tinder can decrease each user’s self-esteem, no matter what an individual’s age, gender, or motivation joining the app. Further research is required to better understand the immediate and longterm effects of the impacts of social media dating platforms. Have you joined Tinder to swipe right for your self esteem?

DON’T TELL ME TO SMILE

By Anonymous

at a breaking point because I’m sick of being asked to smile by the men in my life. Not even just smiling, but the idea that I need to be less truthful in my deliveries to help accommodate men’s fragile egos. This, of course, is not all men but the majority who ruin it for the rest. The ones who feel the need to inform girls that they look prettier with a smile.

Iam

I am sick of the pain I have suffered, plastering a fake smile on every day to accommodate the needs of those around me. Maybe I am just tired today and want a break. Perhaps I do not care, and me not smiling is just showing how I feel about you. I don’t understand why my delivery of facts or smiling is anything other than my choice. I want it to be acceptable for me to tell the truth without having to fluff it up. People need to wake up and see that maybe I don’t want to be ordered around to please you, so don’t ever tell me to smile.

While I understand that smiling is a sign of a positive character and is essential, this issue is the idea that smiling is something women must do 24/7, no matter the circumstance. Smiling in these cases symbolises that women are doing what we expect them to do, which is to care for others. I know people will be confused about how a simple thing can be such an issue, but when you are continuously told you are too pushy or need to smile more your whole life, it makes me furious. I enjoy resting my facial muscles

some days, and it shouldn’t be an issue.

Even the term pushy or controlling has been a label I’ve had to deal with whenever I was given a leadership position. Someone once told me I was too enthusiastic…how can someone be punished for being a part of the community and getting involved. I have lost confidence in myself from these comments over the past few years. I no longer feel motivated to sign up or help because I fear I will be too involved or enthusiastic.

I no longer help lead teams or sign up for leadership roles because I fear I will be too pushy. I am slowly regaining my confidence, but to be truthful, it is hard. I want to conform to society and fit into the expectations to feel more accepted, but that’s not who I am. I know that the constant criticism or so-called feedback has caused me to lose myself. I am no longer passionate about creating change like I once was. I smile less, and I am quieter. I will always fear criticism. After so many years, it has taken so much growth to finally see that me being able to organise or lead a team is not me being controlling. It is me doing my role. By directly speaking to you, I respect you and want you to know the truth. Me not smiling is not your concern. I am not here to say all men suck; women also have significant flaws in life, but maybe take a seat and see that my life is not yours to control.

Take a seat and see that MY life is not yours to control!

THEATRES OR NETFLIX?

accessibility, streaming has now become the biggest platform for media entertainment, leaving the cinemas to second place.

Along

line of people last miles down the block, the smell of freshly buttered popcorn swims in the air, rows of comfy leather chairs occupy the theatre, and most importantly, the massive wide screen sits in front, encapsulating new exciting worlds to marvel at. Oh, who doesn’t love going to the movies? Or more importantly, who does?

Still dealing with the repercussions of the pandemic, one of the most affected businesses was the cinema chains. In 2020, movie theatres were barely operational, only reopening at the end of the year. 2021 was a struggle as many blockbusters bombed throughout the whole year. Nevertheless, 2022 has started off optimistic with ‘Uncharted’ and ‘The Batman’ performing well at the box-office and drawing in audiences. But, has the movie theatre experience reached the same capacity as pre-covid?

When it was first announced back in March 2020 that everyone had to isolate, what did we all do? Cried, scurry for toilet paper, and went on Netflix for entertainment.

Over the past decade, streaming has been a rising form of media, slowly gathering millions of subscribers to their services. It is more likely that you’ll find all of the television shows and films you want to watch on streaming apps. Due to its convenience and

As a fan of movies this bothers me. I do have Netflix of course (who doesn’t), as well as Disney+, Stan and Amazon Prime. But where is the joy?

You log onto Netflix and spend hours surfing the site for something to watch. It’s like a grocery store, endlessly strolling down the aisle gazing at products on the shelves, not knowing what to get till you just buy the same old things. Then you actually find a film or show you want to watch, but halfway through you get distracted by your surroundings or your phone. So you lose interest.

Going to the theatres is an event. You decide which movie to want to see, you ask your friends to come, you book the tickets and make you way. Entering the cinema, you collect the tickets, buy a bucket of popcorn and soft drink. Finally, you walk into the massive auditorium, sitting down in the endless rows and watch a film projected on the wide screen. Thus, making it an experience.

You don’t have an experience when trying to find something on Disney +. Who enjoys that? Every time I go to the movies, no matter if it’s good or bad, it’s an experience that I always remember.

However, an aspect I want to talk about is the movies themselves. In a time before streaming, television series were very limited in their storytelling and visual style. There were only the few shows that

NETFLIX?

WORDSBYJAKEMANOUSSAKIS

exceeded the grounds of cable television. However, streaming has broken that mould. Television has become so revered thanks to streaming. Shows like ‘Stranger Things’, ‘The Mandalorian’ and ‘Bridgerton’ have come from those services. It’s also provided opportunities for other shows that premiered decades ago to gain a new audience. I would’ve never watched ‘Breaking Bad’ without Stan, and now that’s my favourite show. Although, the quality in films has lacked. Streaming sites like Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime, make and release original film content. There have been some good films they have produced, like Netflix’s ‘The Irishman’. However, the quality has been outweighed with the quantity. So many movies release every week, and so many of them are terrible in comparison. This is due to the financial structure of streaming.

With films released in theatres, there is a guaranteed box-office return. A movie can perform really well, earning huge amounts of money on a small budget. The found footage horror film, ‘The Blair Witch Project’, was made for $200,000. Released in 1999, it went on to gross $248.6 million globally. Even if the film doesn’t do well in cinemas, the after release on DVD and Blu-Ray could make up the financial loses. The cult classic ‘Fight Club’ bombed at the box-office, making $101 million off a $60 million budget, but was a huge success in video sales. It recouped $34 million in DVD sales in the United States as of 2009.

This success can’t be replicated on streaming, movies can’t gain money. The only money that is gathered is from subscribers like us. That’s why Netflix is always having to raise their prices. Their only form of revenue is the monthly subscriptions. So, to keep subscribers, they must keep releasing new products for us to consume. Thus, distributing films that are cheap and quick to make. Looking into the differences

between theatres and streaming, the most fascinating thing I find is the type of movies we get now. Don’t we always here that phrase, “they don’t make movies like they use to”. Gosh I love the irony in that. The studio doesn’t make movies like they use to because no one goes and watches them. Films that only do well are the superhero hits, because there is a guaranteed return. Motion pictures with a mid-budget of $30 to $70 million have no chance of success anymore.

Let’s look at the success of ‘King Richard’. It had a budget of $50 million dollars and was released at the end of 2021. Comparing it to ‘The Blind Side’, released in 2009 with a budget of $29 million, both are biographies, following the life of a sporting individual. Earning money at the box-office, King Richard made $38.1 million while the Blind Side made $309.2 million.The mid budget film doesn’t do well in theatres anymore, only on streaming. The films that are financially valuable for films are the $100 million plus blockbusters.

With those films released on streaming, they can waste any money they have as all they need is the number of views. Instead of trying to make a good enough film to make money in the theatres, movies are just sloppily thrown together to gain viewing stats. A scary figure I found in regards to movie theatre attendance numbers, was published by Screen Australia. They calculated that 35% of the movie going audience went to the movies in Australia as of 2021. This percentage is lower compared to previous years.

What does this tell us? Yes, covid has played a factor of course, but the 2020 figure was at 53% for Australian attendance. Is streaming affecting the movie going experience? I believe so.

Streaming has provided great access to films and shows that I’ve always wanted to watch, but theatres will always be my go-to. Theatres transport you into a new world, escaping the harsh realities of life to experience something exciting. Next time you want to catch a movie, consider your local theatre. I think you know where you’ll be catching me.

DECimation Of the Humanities in Australia And The Roman Empire

Words by Garrett Fitzgerald

Prima

facie philosophical questions such as: what is life? what does it mean to be human? would appear to be of utmost importance to human beings and how we live our lives. Correspondingly these would be pondered by a generously funded myriad of the brightest minds: philosophers, professors, and scholars. Whose role is dedicated to understanding the past and present, the human condition and human behaviours. Alas, this is not the case in western societies, including Australia.

It is quite the opposite – universities and their humanities departments have instead been decimated since the 1980s, having funding reduced, academic value questioned and being misunderstood in contemporary society. The Humanities comprises studies about people and society in: History, Geography, Languages, Theology (Study of Religions), Philosophy, performing Arts and Psychology.

The Diversity of the Humanities and the Roman

This crisis within the Humanities is analogous to the later Roman Empire during the Crisis of the Third Century. As a large structure comprising many areas and groups, under threat from external forces (Barbarian Invasions e.g., Goths and Huns) calamitously combined with internal struggles (Civil wars and currency devaluation), with a weakening central governmental structure not recognised or having authority in some parts of the Empire. Alongside seismic Religious upheaval and an increasing fracturing and plurality of identities as well as languages within the Dominate.

This is an apt and relevant historical parallel devised by myself, on many levels. For the Humanities today in Australia this pluralisation has also weakened their capacity to present a united front against external attacks by pagans and barbarians (public opinion, politicians and megatrends such as STEM). Despite the growing complexity of modern society, juxtaposed to this, Humanities disciplines are experiencing greater specialisation and fragmentation. Analogously, also being unable to prevent rampant internal civil strife, whence Humanities fields of study competing against each other for funding, recognition, staff and students.

In: “…a culture that privileges the momentary, the visual and the sensational over the enduring, the written and the rational.” (Turner, 2004) What chance does an out of vogue Religious voice with bad PR have, against the most all-pervading and persuasive mass media to have yet existed? In a world permeated with trends and fads; globalism and multiculturalism loom large. The Humanities covering a multitude of faiths, cultures, languages and communities, would seem to fit snuggly with these contemporary trends and ideas in Australia of tolerance, diversity and multiculturalism. In our current societyfocused on the self and littered with references to spirituality, it is inexplicable, the study of Theology – which is not merely concerned with solely with knowledge or gaining wisdom, but also personal enrichment, is sidelined and ignored. Evidently, this modern focus on the self is only at a superficial level.

The Decline of Humanity Degree and Courses

It is a conundrum – fewer degrees, majors and courses available, diminished student numbers, truncated staff numbers, curtailed research funding, lesser public attention. Was this the catalyst? It is hard to glean, due to a dearth of literature and studies on such a topic, due in the main to a lack of research funding, although,

it is clear there is a defined trend of decimation, whereby there is a decreasing number of Humanities courses, staff, degrees and majors in Australia. I can vouch for this, having searched for a Master of History degree or even a Master of Arts degrees Australia wide in recent times, most universities do not offer these qualifications at all. Thus, there is a lack of literature exploring the degrading and defunding of the humanities, understandably when considering the funding staff and faculty cuts – time, money and researchers just simply aren’t available. Universities are unlikely to fund or support projects or theses that are critical of themselves.

For example, from my personal observation, in 2019 it was largely only the academic and history fields, who marked the anniversary and conducted studies on the 1919 Spanish Influenza Pandemic. At the time, the mainstream media was lukewarm to this, not seeing any relevance or perceiving a lack of public interest. Consider, it is 2016 or 2017 and a Humanities researcher is seeking funding to research the impacts and responses to the 1919 Spanish Flu, to fund this would seem almost preposterous. Be that as it may, since February 2020 this research was catapulted into the stratosphere with a vigorous relevance. On this note, a discussion paper published by the Australian Council of Social Sciences in January 2021, the most recent significant research in this sector and first major report int the sector since 2014, remarked: “Like the rest of the world the social sciences had been impacted by the covid 19 pandemic. Loss of thousands of feepaying international students, jobs and budget cuts. Emphasis on diploma and apprenticeships” (Australian Council of Social Sciences, 2021). Adding another layer of budgetary pressure and vitiating considerations for a Humanities sector already under strain.

What can be Done?

The major challenges facing the Roman Empire/Australia and the Western World, require creative and innovative solutions, which can only be developed by multidisciplinary teams. These significant challenges include obesity, climate change, cancer, terrorism and Indigenous disadvantage in Australia. The humanities can offer insight into the ethical and morality of any proposal and an understanding of people and the impact of any solution on these big issues and the individuals involved.

Conclusion – a New Byzantium?

To conclude, the Humanities is a current diverse banner comprising a number of fields of study: history, literature, music, art, and political science. Funding for the Humanities has been trending downwards since the 1980s, due to changes in universities and paradigms relating to funding. Could the current trending decimation of the Humanities merely be a passing Crisis of the Third Century? Will there be a restoration under Constantine the Great or Aurelian? Rather, a festering decline ending with a Romulus Augustulus? Or, more preferably a continuing glory and rebirth as the Byzantine Empire lasting another thousand years – a new Byzantium?

Garrett Fitzgerald is both a teacher and student of the Humanities. He holds a Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Arts Degree in History, a Certificate IV in Christian Ministry and is close to finishing a Masters of TESOL (Languages and Linguistics) degree at Bond University.

The Great Australian Dream CRISIS

Housing affordability has been a talking point in Australia for as long as I can recall. Sadly it is an issue that has significant implicit and explicit effects on the decisionmaking of young Australians.

Currently, there is pressure on young people to start saving from their early teens to afford the bare necessity of living and a place to call home. Yet, the previous generation was encouraged to travel the world, live a little and enjoy their youth before settling down. Since the 1990s, housing affordability was once a periodic cyclical concern, but today it is a chronic problem. Over the last year, the 20% rise in prices has spotlighted this issue. A family home in Sydney is now even more expensive than South Tower. With the surge in house prices and increased debt, the risk of financial instability has further pressured the already empty pockets of young Australians. The issue of house affordability is one of the critical catalysts leading to an endless cycle of poverty. Housing affordability is a crucial determinant causing homelessness to reach the highest level in several decades.

WHO IS TO BLAME?

The gap between those with wealth and those without is only increasing. Due to interest rates being at an all-time low, people with access to capital have grown their property portfolios significantly. These low-interest rates have seen Australia experience its highest number of landlords in history. Further, the desire to own a rental property has placed increasing pressure on the supply and demand of desirable properties, therefore inflating prices.

Alongside other tax incentives, negative gearing plays a significant role in causing an undersupply in the housing market. Negative gearing is lucrative in causing high-income investors to buy investment properties as they can claim tax losses on the property which thus lowers their individual tax burden.

Another critical determinant of housing prices is the unjustifiable wage growth within many industry sectors. Salaries in traditionally wellpaying industries such as banking, medicine and law have seen minimal growth. At the same time, other industries that have a lower mean salary have increased drastically. A recent study from Deloitte Access Economics notes that unskilled labourers are making over $150,000 in

Victorian union sites. Australia’s steep rise in the cost of living and house prices is only set to get worse as countless industries are being overpaid compared to other advanced economies.

GETTING AHEAD

The government has released several forms of help to assist young homeowners in getting a foot in the door. Recent incentives released by the Morrison government allow first homeowner buyers to pay just a 5% deposit on a property; however, with a low deposit, buyers should be aware of the added pressures that will come with much larger repayments. Many states, such as Queensland, offer grants for buying your first home, which provides a $15,000 grant on homes under $750,000. It is also essential to understand how you can help yourself before homeownership and the importance of being financially literate at a young age. I can’t understate the importance of taking the time to look at the financial investment opportunities that are around for my fellow youth. It is essential for those who are starting to follow your interests. For example, when buying your first share, you should look at the financial performance foremost. Still, you should pick a company or industry that interests you as you are likely to stay up to date with the news and make better financial decisions. Overall buying your first home is an uphill battle, but it’s not an unachievable one. I’d like to encourage all my fellow Bondies not to feel too disheartened as you can always win big on the multi.

PLACES YOU CAN ACCESS

Words by anonymous

TRUE LEADERSHIP.

Leadership.

It is defined online as the action of leading a group of people. Is this truly the definition of a leader, or is this a term to disguise the truth? I feel we give this title too easily to people undeserving of such a powerful position. It’s like saying a penguin can fly. They may be a bird, but they cannot fly. A person can be called a leader, but most people do not have the skills to lead.

I have followed these so-called leaders throughout my life and never truly understood how they got this title. I found a common issue that authority figures felt that their position was enough and would forget about supporting their team. They stand there waving and smiling while their ‘team’ are making the actual change. As the face of the group, I understand that it is essential to be seen and act perfect, hiding the team’s faults. Although I believe

“I’m a leader, I can do it myself”

That one fun person in your Core Two class who takes over but forgets it’s a team task. I’m not complaining, but I don’t want my CATME score to go down due to your inability to work in a team. Or the one player who forgets to share the ball in training, resulting in the team scoring no goals, just pass the ball! These leaders are

they too need to contribute to making change. I am looking forward, I am no longer seeing these types of authoritative figures in my life as leaders but rather as a symbol of unfair power. While I believe in democracy, I feel not every popular person voted into a position should be seen as great for leading. I think the role should be granted based on their ability to create change and motivate others rather than given to them.

After taking the time to review the dimensions of leadership, I found that I had seen leadership as a title overused, but it can come in various forms. There are true leaders; then there are leaders with power who lack the ability and knowledge to use it. Instead of looking into what a true leader is, I want to share with you the worst types of leaders (from my personal experience). I even named them myself.

the worst but at least sometimes they can get things done. These leaders are the true thorns of leaders. They have a badge but no skills. I hope one day you will take some time to revaluate your position within a team if you fit this description. Maybe look towards doing an individual sport or not doing a degree with group work.

unqualified, they overcompensate”

The one type of leadership that enrages me… self-protective. Have you ever dealt with a person so stuck on their high horse that they’d rather save their reputation than their team? I have had to deal with so many of these types of leaders. They stand there watching and micro-managing as you work your backside off completing the PowerPoint, which could have quickly been done if they did the work. They thrive in team conflict and purposely sit you and your other teammates down to ‘sort’ out the issue, or to stir sh*t up more. If you’re reading this and it resonates with you, maybe stop and think how much of a pain in the bum you are to everyone else! Stop smiling and taking ownership of what your team does, be a decent leader and do something. These people are like my manager; they

thinks everyone looks up to them but really, we all hate you. This is why no one asks for your help or advice.

I hope these kinds of people get hit with reality one day and see that maybe they aren’t good leaders. I know this is just from my perspective, and you should always decide for yourself who you choose to follow, but I know that to make actual change in this world, we need real leaders. From this day onwards, I hope to challenge you to question authority and maybe take time to ask yourself. Do you deserve your title as a leader, or are you taking it for granted. I know that people can always change, and like myself, I hope you all take the time to continue to work on yourself and become a more impactful leader rather than those secretly despised by others.

I believe in Democracy, But I also believe that not every popular person voted into a position is a leader. a true leader may not be the loudest in the room, but they do know how to create change and positively motivate

PINEAPPLE ON PIZZA?

THE NAIL IN THE COFFIN CASE FOR NO PINEAPPLE ON PIZZA!

Words by Josiah Neal

The theme for this BOUND edition is ‘Take A Seat’ so many people will be contributing articles on issues about which they feel very strongly. In that spirit, I will be addressing the horrific practice of decorating any perfectly ready-to-eat pizza with a tropical fruit that breaks tradition, ruins the dish and frankly does more harm than good.

Origins: Pizza, Pineapple, and the Combination from Hades

Let’s start with the glorious circle of dough that we all enjoy so much – *moves hand in unmistakably stereotypically Italian manner* – pizza. Although placing cheese, sauce and other toppings on flatbread may have originated elsewhere in the Mediterranean or Middle East and later made its way to Italy, ‘pizza’ in a contemporary sense was invented by Raffaele Esposito in Naples in the 1800s. Pizza in the form that we enjoy it in today originated from Italy.

Separately, pineapple (Ananas comosus) is the fruit of the perennial plant of the Bromeliaceous family native to the Caribbean and Americas. Where will you not find natively growing plants of the pineapple family? You guessed it – Italy. By its very nature, it has been a tropical plant that graced the cuisines of meso-American and pan-Asian cuisine.

The appropriation of pineapple onto pizza even in the abstract sense is a perfect example of gastro-imperialism at work – the food of the colonies being forcefully taken back to Europe and ignorantly slapped on a piece of baked dough, without any consideration for the cultural significance of pineapple for those that inhabited the areas where it grows naturally. This trend is continued in the origin story of the ubiquitous ‘Hawaiian’ pizza which was invented by Greek Canadian restauranteur Sam Panapoulos. The ‘Hawaiian’ name originated from the brand of canned pineapple that was used to decorate the pizza that fateful night. It was an accidental marketing success as it capitalised on a burgeoning obsession with Tiki culture in North America since the accession of Hawaii as a US State in 1959 and was spread to the world through neo-imperialist multinationals such as Domino’s Pizza, Pizza Hut and more. Hawaiian’s on the whole dislike Panapoulos’ abomination, according to Nadine Kam, the features editor and restaurant reviewer of the Honolulu Star Bulletin. Outside of Hawaii, surveys by the Huffington Post and pizza delivery app Slice have shown that the majority of regular consumers of the flying bread saucer from heaven severely dislike it being tainted by this soggy, sweet berry. This brings me to my next point.

Gastronomy: Flavour, Texture, and the Art of Culinary Combination

Whether you enjoy a filthy late night post-Surfers slice from Marie’s or sitting down and using cutlery to slowly dissect a gourmet creation from Roy’s, it is indisputable that flavour matters for any worthwhile culinary excursion, including pizza. Pineapple is quite a spanner in the works for anyone hoping for a balance of fatty/salty and sweet/fruity notes on their pizza. Jim Mumford, a renowned food critic and author of his blog Jim Cooks Food Good highlighted that a PB&J sandwich operates in a similar manner, with the peanut butter providing those fatty/salty notes and the jam providing the sweet/fruity notes. In a pizza, the

cheese plays the role of the peanut butter, and the pizza sauce plays the part of the jam. Basically, putting pineapple on pizza is like putting marmalade or honey on your PB&J.

Mumford’s PB&J analogy also helps us to analyse the other important dimension by which all pizza is judged: texture. The yeasty texture is provided by the bread, or in our case, the pizza base. The introduction of pineapple, which is technically a berry, completely up-ends the almost-erotic interplay of the textures of that yeasty bread, pizza sauce, and cheese. The argument might be raised that tomato on pizza also poses this issue, however, it is generally far less juicy and often baked onto the pizza rather than just added after straight out of its can as it has been ever since Sam Panapoulos first did it in 1962.

It’s not just the food reviewers, flavour chemists (yes, they exist) and fresher-avoiding BUSA President that disagree with the effect that pineapple has when the pizza hits the palate. The original NYC pizza joint, Lombardi’s, refuses to serve pineapple on its pizza. Master pizzaiolo Franco Pepe who owns a restaurant in Caiazzo, agreed that adding pineapple to pizza resulted in “double acidity, which invariably resulted in a weak taste and poor digestibility.” If you’re still not convinced by these dough masters, the world-famous expert in cuisine and cursing, Gordon Ramsay, has openly stated,

Outside of the historical/traditional and gastronomical reasons for not putting pineapple on pizza, there are other important facts about this abhorrent practice that we all need to remember:

When you put pineapple on pizza, that’s SpongeBob’s house you’re eating so he’s homeless now because of YOU!

and when forced to eat it for charity, said “This isn’t pizza, it’s a mistake…imagine salty sweet cardboard, because that’s exactly what’s gone in my mouth right now.” I’m not claiming to be an expert here but if THE GORDON RAMSAY says pineapple doesn’t belong on pizza, well then the case is closed. Thanks very much, end of discussion!

The President of Iceland stated in 2017 that if he had the power to set laws, he would ban pineapple on pizza (and so would I).

If you like pineapple pizza, you probably had no friends as a child because you were always last to the pizza at a party and only Hawaiian was left over, so you had to eat it.

Michelangelo, who is easily the coolest Ninja Turtle, hates pineapple on pizza.

In all honesty, if you took the time to read this article, I applaud you regardless of your pizza preferences and I hope that I at least brought a smile to your face in an issue of BOUND that I am sure is full of profound contributions about issues that are far more serious than this.

“You don’t put f***ing pineapple on a pizza! What the f** are you doing?”

It’s almost that time of the year again!! Get excited Bondies as the most beloved, highly-anticipated week is right around the corner! If you don’t know what I am talking about...HI FRESHERS!

Every September semester, Bondstock is a week of events where the Bondie spirit truly comes to life. Meetings are underway, venues are being booked and the champagne is on ice. Co-conveners Jameson Booth and Carmen Davies are leading the charge this year, with an excited army of committee members by their side.

boasts a motivated and enthusiastic team. “This [committee] runs very smoothly, they are very intelligent people in all the roles that they’ve been assigned to do,” said Booth, visibly excited about the team he is leading.

This year will be nothing like any Bondie has experienced before. Bond is no stranger to hosting elaborate events. It’s vibrant social scene is what makes the university so special, and brings together the tight-knit community that it is so well-known for. Bond’s #1 ranking in student experience in Australia for 16 consecutive years is a reflection of the student’s connection to Bond, and it is events like Bondstock that allow people to truly see the special community that surrounds them.

says Booth, who will be attending his first ever Bondstock this year. After two years of muddled plans due to Covid-19, this year’s Co-conveners are set on bringing back the Bondstock we all know and love.

“I’m hoping Bondstock 2022 will revitalise it’s reputation by bringing everyone together and back to how it was,” said Davies, who has already attended two Bondstocks herself.

The Bondstock Comittee is comprised of 18 Bondies. Each member is responsible for an important element in the making of this year’s event. The Co-conveners are very pleased with this year’s committee, which

“At a Bondstock event you’re surrounded by hundreds of people who you can refer to by their first name, that in itself is a pretty cool aspect,” said Booth.

So there you have it folks, Bondstock 2022 will be one to watch. Year after year, tickets sell out in a flash, so don’t miss out!

For updates and all things Bondstock, follow them on Instagram and Facebook @bondstock.

“My vision is to create stories for people that they will talk about for years to come.”

BONDSTOCK THE EVENT OF THE YEAR

Words by Bianca Licina

“This year will be nothing like any Bondie has experienced before. Expect big things!”

Across

5. beliefs and actions that are of an exetreme or fanatical nature.

6. the activity of killing wild animals for sport or food. 7. computing skills to interfere with a computer system. 9. giving rise to public disagreement.

11. a person who does not consume products derived from animals.

12. the differnce between the average earnings of women and men in the work force: 2 wds. 13. Australian of the year 2021: 2 wds. 16. a woman agreeing to carry a baby for someone else. 17. the absence of a belief in deities. 19. state of being extremely poor. 21. aviodance of the depletion of nature resources.

DOWN

1. a variety of individuals and points of view represented in a group.

2. Chinese tennis player who went missing. 3. contribution to state revenue, levied by the government on income, profits, or added to the cost of some goods, services, and transactions.

4. a preparation to stimulate the body’s immune response against a specific infectious agent or disease.

5. the state of being equal, especially in status, rights or opportunities.

8. being faithful to commitments or obligations. 10. a person who is the legal property of another and is forced to obey them.

14. human impact on earth’s temperature: 2 wds. 15. terminating a pregnancy before it can be carried to term.

18. medicine or substance used for stimulant effects. 20. moral principles that govern a person’s behaviour or the conducting of an activity.

BUSA END OF

OF SEM BASH