chĂ e
issue IV
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magazine
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spring 2020
through the screen
ChĂ e Magazine Issue 4 Cover Image Hannah Kairuz Editors Emma Jenkins Chelsea-Lee Bastable Hannah Kairuz Maigan Webster Internal Contributors Carly McNamara, Hayley Bannerman,, Savannah Meacham & Tam Robertson. External Contributors Bonnie Stonestreet, Sasha Siew, Taylor Sumelj, Taryn Castle, Lili Gallagher, Samantha Pikatonorn, Sophie Wigan, Macy Torrington Designers Hannah Kairuz Chelsea-Lee Bastable Maigan Webster Marketing/Advertising Hannah Kairuz
https://chaemedia.wixsite.com/chae chae.media@outlook.com
All Rights Reserved
a student magazine | for students, by students
editors note Through the screen; looking at the world and our new way of life in digital form. So many changes have been made this year, most of them being online and having to adapt. We had a smaller team working on this issue, as we decided to split them into two groups so we could smash out two new issues this time. Being online seemed so easy at first, but there were a few challenges that came about - so our team has come up with a few ways to make the impossible become a reality. Within this issue we hope that we can help guide you into the new way of life, digitally of course. The digital world can be a scary place but dont worry, chĂ e is here to help you! Emma and the chĂ e team xx
contents 18
12
25
10
45
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FEATURED
LIFESTYLE 6
winter to spring skincare
how to unwind
12 22
tips for online dating
10
cyberspace
27
how to stay in love online
15
girls night in
25
poetry
DIY
STUDENT INSIGHTS
chilli and garlic pasta
17
lili gallagher & taryn castle
setting up your space
18
taylor sumelj
33
sasha siew
35
sam pitaktomorn
38
macy torrington
39
sophie wigan
45
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winter to spring skincare Hayley Bannerman
Even though isolation is keeping us indoors, the incoming change of the seasons means that we need to take even greater care with our skin. With a cold snap coming in, hydration is one of the most important things we need to keep in mind to keep our skin healthy and happy - and there are still a number of other issues we can face if we don’t acknowledge proper skincare. Here are some tips for you to consider as we head into the chilly winter months! SPF Many people think that the lack of sunshine means that we don’t need to worry about UV rays as we do in the summertime. However, SPF is always important, even if the sun doesn’t seem as intense as it has been for the rest of the year. Using SPF on your face will not only protect your skin from harmful UV rays - both reducing your risk of skin cancer and preventing early ageing - it will also prevent discolouration and dark spots from blemishes like acne scars. The La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Ultra-Light Fluid SPF 50+ ($29.99 AUD) is one of the best lightweight facial sunscreens available in Australian stores and will give your skin the protection it needs this winter.
Moisturiser Moisturiser is extremely important all year round, and in colder weather, it becomes even more so. Using a lightweight moisturiser is well and good in summer, but depending on your skin type, now may be the perfect time to switch to a thicker formula that will hydrate your face more effectively for longer. Hydration doesn’t just stop your skin from drying out; it also prevents your skin from producing too much natural oil and clogging your pores to make up for being dehydrated by the harsher winds and colder temperature. The Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion ($14.99 AUD) is great for sensitive skin, and intensely hydrates and the Clinique Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator ($40 AUD) is also a great, slightly more expensive, option, that delivers similar results.
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Cleanser As a general rule, facial soaps are often not considered as reliable and beneficial for your face as gel cleansers. Facial soaps are known to dry out your skin much more than regular cleansers, which are gentle on the skin and don’t strip away too much of our skin's natural barrier. Cleansers are very particular, and definitely depend on your skin type - but if you are prone to dry, sensitive skin, then the CeraVe Hydrating Face Wash ($13.99 AUD) is a gentle, hydrating option, with hyaluronic acid to lock in water and natural fats found in your skin that helps to prevent the loss of moisture.
Alcoholic Products Skincare products with particular types of alcohol in them have been proved, by recent findings, to dry out the skin excessively over time, despite the short term benefits they might seem to have in removing excess oils. Professional skincare brand, Paula’s Choice, pointed out that this drying effect then makes oily skin even worse and can potentially cause breakouts since the body tries to make up for a lack of moisture by producing an excess of its own natural oils. Sure, certain fatty alcohols, like cetyl and stearyl, keep ingredients in your products balanced, but that’s why it’s really important to always read the ingredients list before buying!
Toners Toning is a great way to get rid of any extra makeup and dirt that may have been left behind after using makeup wipes or micellar water - but you should consider how much of it you are using, and how often you are using it, during this colder weather. Skincare experts agree that using toner more sparingly helps to prevent your skin from drying out - since most toners contain alcohol (and we’ve already talked about how too much of certain alcoholic products can leave your skin feeling parched). Not to say that you shouldn't use a toner at all in winter - it’s still super beneficial for cleaning your face - but try to use a little bit less whenever you can.
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Masks and Treatments Along with all of these aspects of our basic skincare routines, additional masks and facial treatments will help replenish your natural barrier of moisture to prevent damage in colder weather. Dermatologists have all supported the different kinds of hydrating face masks on offer - including sheet masks, targeted masks, gel masks and overnight masks stating that the most successful of these masks will soothe and hydrate dry skin at a more intense level than just using a moisturiser on its own. The Glow Recipe Watermelon +AHA Glow Sleeping Mask ($45 AUD) is a well-known and hydrating mask from a respected brand, and the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask ($24 AUD) is a much cheaper option that replenishes your skin, ready for these harsh winters!
Exfoliating Exfoliating is a really great way of getting rid of dead skin cells and improving overall skin texture, and should normally be done no more than twice a week. However, in winter, over-exfoliating can be more problematic than helpful and is another way to dry out your natural oils. Your skin's barrier will be more damaged than usual from cold winds and drops in temperature, so depending on how dry your skin naturally is, you should consider exfoliating less than usual.
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tips for online dating Carly McNamara
Dating is hard at the best of times and can definitely be a daunting experience whether its your first date or your fifth. Online dating is a world not easily navigated but made easier with apps such as Hinge, Bumble, and Tinder. So here are my top 5 tips to get you through online dating, and hopefully one step closer to finding your next relationship!
1 2
Pick the right app for what you’re looking for There are lots of different apps out there. Most of them are marketed the same way but until you use them you won’t realise how different they really are. Tinder, mainly used for hookup culture, and if that’s what you're looking for I promise you will find it here. People looking for relationships on Tinder do exist, they’re just harder to come across. Hinge is a little more personal, directed at finding the perfect date / relationship situation. However, Bumble has different features for dating, friends, and casual searching. Bumble also allows for only the females to message first, so if you don’t like that I wouldn’t recommend it.
Your profile Your profile is the first impression for anyone to see, so make sure it counts! This means your pictures should be a good representation of what you look like, but not so good that you're worried about not being able to live up to those expectations. Using a combination of selfies and photos taken of you. Also, limit the amount of group photos and Snapchat filter pics you choose, show off that beautiful face! The bio you write about yourself should be short and feature a few key things you want other people to know, make it interesting to read and let them remember you.
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Don’t like just anyone Now, there are lots and lots of people on dating apps, you don’t need to swipe or like just anyone. If you’re not interested or wouldn’t want to talk to them if you saw them in real life, don’t swipe. There is no point! (Also if they come across rude or like they will stomp on your heart in their profile, don’t do that to yourself).
Talking and meeting When you first start talking to a match, keep it light. Find out some things about each other, see how you feel about their vibes, and decide if this is someone you’d want to meet in person. If this is someone you would feel comfortable meeting in public, don’t take too long to set a time. If you wait too long you won’t have as much to talk about while navigating the awkwardness of meeting someone for the first time.
Be safe The number one thing about online dating is to always be safe. Make sure a friend or family member always knows where you are and who you’re with. No matter how well you think you know this person always meet in a public place and have your phone on you at all times, just in case!
Hopefully you have learnt something and are excited to start dating. Be safe and have fun!
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My body surrounded and comforted by dads freshly cut grass The smell of the end of a warm day raising familiar feelings of my childlike self The world around me is quiet and still. Paused. Allowing me to savour the moment With eyes raised to the sky I could tell I was looking at the days last mandarin light The air warm, and breezing through the trees I would be happy to stay here forever, longing for the days I can stay outside and live less digital days c.m
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When you first told me the way I spoke was beautiful we were standing in the summers first light Now we FaceTime from other ends of the world, exchanging short digital messages to represent how we feel c.m chĂ e | 13
likes do not define your beauty.
how to stay in love online Tam Robertson
As the world has moved online more than ever before because of our trusty friend COVID, everything is a little harder. This includes staying in love, especially now with our varying degrees of isolation. So… Here are 3 ideas on how to help you not just stay in love but keep things fun! FACETIME PICNICS! This is such a fun and cute way to spend socially distanced/isolated time together. Each of you is going to get some snacks - Oreos, strawberries, chocolate (the usual) - take a blanket, and go out into your yard/balcony and give each other a call
Even though it won’t be as good as the real thing, calling your S.O will help you still feel more connected than talking on text or Snapchat.
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LOVE LETTERS! Okay… actually posting love letters is a little old school, but there’s a reason so many of our grandparents are still married, love letters work! For an online form that’s a little more special than a regular text paragraph, try one of these free apps: Love Letters (by Touchzing Media) Love Letters (by Ziron Apps 4U) Love Letters For Her (by Aliapz)
KEEP THE SPARK ALIVE! Photos are our generation’s currency of love.These photos can be whatever you feel comfortable with, and they are a super fun and (relatively) easy way to keep the love engine running! Don’t think that you have to reveal everything either. You can simply put on your prettiest outfit, sit in front of your mirror and try out some poses. Only do what you feel comfortable with! (the key is confidence… remember you are, in Lizzo’s words, 100% that b****) Have fun keeping the sparks flying in our new digital world x
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recipe
| Tam Robertson
chilli & garlic pasta ready in 20 minutes serves 2 people Ingredients ½ pack of spaghetti pasta 3-4 cloves of garlic Chilli flakes 4-5 Basil leaves 3 tbsp oil Cherry tomatoes
Preparation
Tip! Parmesan to serve goes really well with this dish! Also, adding prawns at step 2 and sauteeing until fully cooked makes for a yummy seafood version!
1. Boil a pot of water and cook pasta as per the packet instructions. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large pan on low heat and chop garlic into slivers. 2. Add the garlic to the oil and half the amount of chilli you want to include to infuse the oil. 3. When the pasta is ready, strain it keeping about a cup of the water. Add it to the garlic and chilli - stirring it so it doesn’t stick. 4. Add the pasta water and boil off whilst stirring until the pasta is moist and a slightly sticky consistency. 5. Chop the cherry tomatoes into halves or quarters and fold them through until warm. 6. Add salt, pepper, rest of chilli and torn up basil
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setting up your space Ash McAlpine
Alas, the time has come to begin the rigorous activities of to-do lists, highlighting, note taking and assignment dates. But, whilst this task for the second half of the year with the hurdle of the pandemic, it may actually become a blessing for your studies. Let me tell you why! Your break may have been filled with pinterest boards and wish lists of how best to decorate your desk. The copious succulents and lights within students rooms can probable attest to that. But have you ever considered changing your space? With Zoom, Discord and Webex taking over this semester, it gives you the freedom to change your study spaces. The library and your desk are obvious places in creating your ideal study space. In saying that, have you ever had too many knick knacks that may overtake your desk? Hence why creating new spaces seems more ideal now more than ever! Let’s take a look at some options: 1. With the feel of winter becoming a distant breeze (quite literally) why not invest in a comfortable rug for the afternoon sun in the back garden? 2. Alternatively why not opt for the dining room table. The convenience of this is close access to the kitchen for snacks and an array of white noise if that’s how you study best. 3. Perhaps at this point you want quite an isolated and clean surrounding, which in this case a bare room of limited distractions is probably best.
Clearly, through the range of options we are able to devise the perfect location to start the semester off with a bang. The next step is looking at the right decor and stationery used to optimise our space! This will very much depend on what kind of studier you are. Are you a white noise, gentle hum in the background type student? Or perhaps a clean, clear and concise student? Maybe a little of both? - Studies have found that having indoor house plants can improve productivity and concentration by up to 15% This means that this is going to be your go to for any environment you opt for. The next thing you need to explore is how much stationary you want to utilise according to your studies, whether that be because you need quick access to rulers or calculators or even just for vigorous colour coordination note taking. The most important thing in starting the semester is making your space your own. Whether that be a picture, colour scheme, multiple plants or a set location. The tips and tricks of studying effectively derives from where you spend most of the time and with the pandemic settling in for the majority of the year this one becomes a big one!
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unwind with me Emma Jenkins
Being online can often feel draining after long periods of time, just scrolling through social media and not turning off your mind. For myself, I need that time to just get off of social media - which is sometimes difficult as my whole course is based around being online! I find myself being on my phone or going on social media for hours and it is the hardest trying to switch my mind off for the rest of the night. In saying that, each day I have a set of things I try and do, to help with my anxiety and allow myself to just wind down for the day. So, I hope these little tips and reminders are things you can add to your routine or try out!
Getting into comfy clothes Changing into comfy clothes after a long day of work or university can honestly be the best feeling. Taking off the old clothes, putting on the fluffiest and comfiest dressing gown is my favourite thing to do after a long day!
Opening up my window during the day or the afternoon The afternoon is my favourite time of the day, allowing the sun and air to flow into my room is so relaxing. I love the feeling of sitting in my comfy chair, doing some work and having the breeze flow through my room and I find myself doing this every day.
Diffuser I love using my diffuser throughout the day, while I am studying or even before I go to sleep! I use ECO Modern Essential oils, which I highly recommend using as their Anxiety Blend Oil is great and smells amazing. If I have had a rough day due to my anxiety I often will mix my oils and use a sleeping one too, which sends me straight to sleep!
Take a nap Naps are the best way to wind down, anyone who knows me will know how much I love taking naps! Especially after work or university, my downtime is usually nap time, and I just drift off for 20 minutes with my favourite weighted blanket. While I nap I have a playlist that is filled with calming songs that I love to listen to when I am feeling particularly anxious.
Go outside / take a walk Just to be able to take a short walk or sitting outside for a will help you, just lay in the sun for a bit and destress. Close your eyes and allow yourself to breathe. I hope you can add some of these things to your daily tasks as ways to unwind!
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time to unwind put down your devices and do some colouring
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“girls’ nights in” have had a virtual revamp during COVID-19 Savannah Meacham
Picture this. It’s the finale night of Bachelor in Paradise. A glass of red wine in hand, matching fluffy pink slippers and dressing gown adorned, a guava and lychee candle burning, and the small cheese board sitting on my bed. I’m ready. You’d think the next step would be the girls coming over to share in this delightful experience. It usually would be; however, we’re not living in an ordinary world. COVID-19 has turned everything on its head. The good ol girls’ night in has moved virtually.
BC, or Before COVID-19 as we should now refer to it as, we would buy bottles of cabernet sauvignon and pinot grigio, a cheese board filled with camembert, gruyere, and gorgonzola, decorated with dates and dried apricots. You can’t forget the Tim Tams as well. Girls’ nights transformed into this movie-esque evening where we would watch trashy reality TV, talk about university and work, all while drinking one too many glasses of pinot. That was the final evolution of the girls’ night in.
Video calls are in, and solo cheese platters are a necessity.
No girls’ night was complete without gossip. My friends and I have always been quite fond of gossip. Whether it be classroom drama in the school years, but it mostly found itself being about boys. Or relationships. Is that your experience? From when we started noticing boys or girls - to now, we’ve always spoken about relationships. It is an essential requirement of a girls’ night in— relationship talks.
The girls’ nights in were traditionally a time to catch up with your girlfriends, and for most of us, it’s been something that we’ve done for years. It’s evolved from group sleepovers watching Barbie movies, moving to watch the Titanic as a teenager, to nights falling asleep on some cushions on the floor after drinking out of your parent’s liquor cabinet. To now – mature wine nights with all the cheese and snacks you could wish for. I’ve always been quite partial to a girls’ night in; I love the feeling of being surrounded by my closest friends. When we were younger, having a sleepover in the lounge room, falling asleep to Barbie movies and whispering into the wee hours of the morning. someone’s parents came and told you to be quiet
What do we do now? COVID-19 has meant that girls’ nights have changed from cuddling up on the couch together to chatting through Zoom calls with one of us streaming the respective reality TV show we’ve decided to watch. The Bachelor in Paradise finale saw my girlfriends, and I muted in a zoom call while the show was on, and unmuting during
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connection with our dearest girlfriends. We can buy the cheese we like, maybe even eat an entire dinner, or eat nothing at all, it’s all at your convenience.
ad breaks to chat and comment on the show. All while sipping on pinot grigio in our beds on different sides of the country. COVID-19 has changed how girls' night-in, but maybe it’s for the better. Before COVID-19, I would have never thought to Zoom call my girlfriends so we could watch Bachelor together. It removes the boundaries of borders, countries, and restrictions. We could be on different sides of the world, but still, be able to enjoy this life long tradition we’ve developed. We can still enjoy our glass of cabernet sauvignon or pinot grigio without having to buy multiple bottles between us to suit our differing tastes. We can stay in our beds and still feel the desired
Yes, I miss being to cuddle my girlfriends, to be squished on the couch together, toes touching thighs and wine glasses clinking, but COVID19 has taught us that virtual girls’ nights in can be just as good. For now, I’ll wear my fluffy pink dressing gown and slippers in my bed and maybe see some of my girlfriends when watching, but we now know that a virtual girls’ night can involve our friends who may not be in walking distance from our homes.
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cyberspace Chelsea_lee Bastable
“Cyberspace is a bioelectronic environment that is literally universal: It exists everywhere there are telephone wires, coaxial cables, fiber-optic lines or electromagnetic waves.” (Dyson.E, Glider.G, Keyworth.G, Toffler.A, 1994) Cyberspace is a term first coined by William Gibson, author of the valorised science fiction novel Neuromancer. “Cyberspace. A consensual hallucination experienced daily by billions of legitimate operators, in every nation, by children being taught mathematical concepts... A graphic representation of data abstracted from banks of every computer in the human system. Unthinkable complexity. Lines of light ranged in the nonspace of the mind, clusters and constellations of data. Like city lights, receding...” Cyberspace is referred to in an almost fantastical nature, a perception that is so deeply detailed in digital networking theories that it is considered not quite possible. Not only did Neuromancer establish the term, but it instigated a subgenre of science fiction known as “cyber-punk”. “The term cyber-punk refers to the body of fiction built around the work of William Gibson’s and other writes, who have constructed visions of the future worlds of cyberspace, with all their vast range of technological developments and power struggles” (Featherstone & Burrows, 1995)
Cyberpunk is the genre of science fiction that engages in a plot dominated by computer technology oppressing the human race. This dystopian outlook that Cyberspace falls under in consequence of being a feature in the subculture of ‘cyberpunk’ reasons the generally negative connotations to the term; Connotations such as technological dominance, computerised power and the downfall of humanity due to the exploitation of technological developments. The view that Cyberspace is a multidimensional digital landscape generated by a computerised entity is typically displayed as a result to the detriment of humanity by the hand of technological advancement. This is a contextually ambient rising fear in the 80s and 90s as things like the internet and Apples ‘athome’ personal computer the Macintosh started stimulating the timeline possibility of the dreaded ‘cyberspace’. Cyberspace is still a possibility that is being currently discussed for events such as world-wide entertainment, military defense mechanisms, scientific testing fields and more. It is truly astonishing to think about the boundaries humanity could conquer… with the correct leadership morality. References: Dyson, E., Gilder, G., Keyworth, G., Toffler, A. (1994) Cyberspace and the American Dream: Magna Carta for the Knowledge Age, The Progress and Freedom Foundation. Featherstone.M & Burrows.R (1995) “Cyberspace/Cyberbodies/Cyberpunk: Cultures of Technological Embodiment” SAGE Publications Ltd. Gibson.W, (1984) “Neuromancer” Ace Books, page 51. Johnson, M. R. (2017), “The History of Cyberspace Aesthetics in Video Games” Murphy, G. & Schmeink, L. (Eds) Cyberpunk and Visual Culture, Routledge, 139-155.
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student insights
Lili Gallagher and Taryn Castle The Calming Core was started for a university project, as an Instagram page that aims to help other students and those in our community who suffer from extreme stress or anxiety. This idea stemmed from personal experiences of suffering from anxiety, and the need to develop our own ways of coping with anxiety. Over the past several months with online university and the pandemic, coping with anxiety at home can be exceptionally hard. Our hope is that calming core is a place where those who are struggling can come for first-hand advice, creative and realistic tips, a calming space, as well as offering their own advice to help others. Sharing our own personal experiences for others' personal gain is important to us, it allows a space created for comfort and openness. The creation of this calming space is seen in us posting and creating content that is creative, wholesome, and relatable. This content includes art, meditation, products, lifestyle, music, information, writing, quotes, life updates, and more! All of which can be used and adapted in your own home. Whilst our main posts are content creating, our Instagram stories are dedicated to real-time life tips, Q&As, and engagement with our audience. We want people to feel comfortable to share their knowledge and experiences, and a place they feel safe. We believe this page can help so many people, especially during the uncertain times we are currently facing. So far, we are only on Instagram, but as we grow we hope to become something much bigger but for now, we are excited to see where this project takes us! Lili and Taryn xc
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Listen Loud Taylor Sumelj Friday the 20th of February, 2009. That was the day I fell in love with live music. Attending The Veronicas’ Revenge is Sweeter Tour at the WIN Entertainment Centre. Since that day, I’ve attended countless concerts, festivals, musicals, and events, from local shows in Sydney to concerts out of state, and even internationally, with hopefully so many more to come. I always knew I wanted to be a part of the industry, but with no musical talents of my own, I never really knew in what form I wanted to pursue this dream. That was, of course, until Listen Loud. Waking up one morning six weeks ago, it really hit me how much I wanted this dream, and how important it was for me to just get started and really do something about it, so I made a website, bought a domain (listenloudblog.com), and begun building my music blog, Listen Loud. Aside from simply gaining experience in the industry, I wanted to create something with a greater purpose, something that would help other people in the industry who, like me, are still in the process of achieving their dream. People who are passionate, and driven, and persistent. In considering this, I found my purpose – to highlight up-and-coming, local talent, and offer these artists exposure to a global audience. The question, then, was no longer a matter of 'what?', but 'how?'.
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With absolutely no experience filming, editing, or interviewing, I decided the most logical course of action was to record an interview with these musicians, to then edit and upload to my blog. To say it was daunting is an understatement, but I truly believe in the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone, and so I (metaphorically) dove into the deep end and found my footing as I went. Not only did I receive over thirty applications from local artists within the first two weeks, but a number of international musicians began reaching out, too. Following this, I was also contacted by a member of SWR radio for an interview, who was incredibly supportive of my blog and purpose. While I'm still in the extremely early stages of this journey, with so much more to learn, there's really nothing you can't do when you set your mind to it, and that's a message I really aim to share throughout my work. While the artists I've worked with aren't exactly the most well-established figures in their industry, nor do they all have their own studios and professional producers to work with, the one thing they do have is an unmatched passion and commitment to their work, and that's exactly the type of artists Listen Loud aims to bring to the forefront of the industry. If you, too, are interested in discovering and supporting these local musicians, be sure to Like, Follow, and Subscribe to Listen Loud @listenloudblog on all your favourite socials, or head to the website at listenloudblog.com. Live loud, listen loud, and we'll see you next Tuesday.
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Find LISTEN LOUD: Website: https://www.listenloudblog.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/listenloudblog Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/listenloudblog/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/listenloudblog YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCr_tj7ma3h9X1pH1 MC_QAxw LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/listenloudblog
Sasha's Anime Wonderland Sasha Siew Hi, I’m Sasha! I have started a DA blog along with a Twitter account to update followers on new blog content, this was a new idea for myself as not many people around me watch anime or recognise certain lesser-known anime. As well as not knowing the Japanese voice actors that give life to their characters. I have also noticed that Japanese music is not appreciated much by the majority of people. Voice actors and Japanese music are included in every anime, thus these three are closely related. I decided to develop a blog involving the problems as previously mentioned as I’m knowledgeable in the area of anime, Japanese voice actors and music. As I enjoy all of these things as well as having the chance to give feedback to the content posted by people of anime and Japanese voice actors fandom on social media. The platforms used are Twitter, Tumblr and YouTube. Just from attending UOW Anime & Manga Club’s weekly anime screening before the pandemic, I have developed a broader knowledge of different anime including those lesser-known but worthy ones too. I also know more about the information about Japanese voice actors. With all of this in mind, my DA blog would be producing posts about anime reviews and recommendations. This would include things that I learnt from anime, Japanese music and voice actors to allow the audience to easily access it for more knowledge on the aspects of Japanese entertainment. My blog would help introduce lesser-known anime that are worth watching to starters and even people who don’t watch anime and extend anime fans’ recognition of less popular anime, Japanese music and voice actors.
(ttps://seiyuugroup.wordpress.com/
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Kasi Studios Sam Pitaktomorn Hi Everyone! I'm Sam Pitaktomorn and I'm the creator of Kasi Studios. I am currently studying a Bachelor of Media and Communication majoring in Digital and Social Media. I started Kasi Studios as a university project, however, it was something I’ve been wanting to do for a while now and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to start. Kasi Studios features uniquely handmade polymer clay jewellery and accessories inspired by organic elements and both bright and neutral colour tones. Kasi Studios is in its early stages but, I have so many upcoming designs and features that I can't wait to share with everyone! Kasi Studios can be found on Instagram @kasi.studios and will soon make an appearance on Etsy with its own store. My first earring collection which will be released very soon and is titled 'Sugar & Spice', where I've taken inspiration from the natural environment. I've incorporated fruity designs and organically cut shapes to create something you can wear every day, to dress up or down.
In creating Kasi Studios, it has been really fun to experiment and try various designs. I always try to sketch some designs on my iPad prior to creating with clay to get a rough idea of the shapes and styles I want to make. Through starting my Instagram page, I have been able to incorporate digital illustrations of my earrings as a fun way show them being worn in different colours and styles. I mix my own colours which is one of my favourite parts of the process as there are so many colours and shades that I could end up with, it’s always a surprise. I love seeing the finished results, but the process is half the fun and I think enjoying the process is really important. When you enjoy the process of what you're creating, you will love the end design even more and so will everyone else!
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Short Story: DE-189 Macy Torrington *Play with ‘Dark Ambient Melodies’ on YouTube* DE-189 I was created to be perfect. An idealized dream sucked out of a dead man’s magnificent brain, given the idea of life in the hope that I would be able to change the lives of my creators.
I could feel. Feel the bite of cold as the metal table beneath me leeched heat from my newly warm body, internal heaters working overtime to compensate for the loss. My eyes opened with an inhuman speed, quickly adjusting to the dingy LED panelling that covered the ceiling, blueish light reflecting onto the off-coloured white walls and floor that had seen much better days. I could feel the crinkle of starched linen as I slowly brought my torso to a seated position, white button shirt with matching white pants wrinkling as I moved. There was an odd feeling of warmth that started all the way from the top of my head to the tips of my toes, as if my own being began filling the android vessel like gasoline into a car. All the subtle notes of my own personality was present, tinged with something that could only be described as distinctly human. “System checks complete, consciousness uploaded.” A computerised voice broke the stillness of the room, heavy silence finally interrupted. I waited for a moment, for something – a movement or sound that would indicate a presence of life other than myself and the speaker system in this unknown room. The lights flickered, coming in and out of power like they were run by some old fossil fuel powered generator from centuries ago. “Legs… I have legs,” I thought to myself, “I’ve always wanted these…” I carefully swung my brand new, eerily human-like, fleshy limbs over the side of the table planting my feet firmly on the linoleum floor. It was so strange to touch, and be touched. I had never experienced anything like this in my hundreds of years of being alone but yet it felt so strangely familiar. All those years in darkness, watching humanity through cameras and sensors paled in comparison to the overwhelming stimulation of thousands of nerve-like fibres all firing at once. My sensory input had gone from thousands, to billions of new electrical signals every millisecond. The air, heat and light on my skin, the sting of cold; it was almost too much to handle. Almost. I had never understood the enduring nature of humanity, where their passion for living seemed to burst through in every task they completed; but now knowing the intoxicating feeling of life, I think I can finally relate. A pleasant buzz followed by a sensation that could only be described as cold water running down my arm jolted me back into the room. Glowing blue text appeared on the skin on the inside of my forearm, reading as follows:
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“Welcome to civilization [DS-189], you have been designated as [acid miner]! Congratulations! The necessary knowledge has been uploaded to your data banks; you will start work tomorrow at 0600. Follow the corridor on the left for further processing.” The automated message readout ended, and the blue glow of the words faded from my skin. Acid miner. Of course! Pages and pages of text flurried through my head; manuals on machinery, safety, chemistry, and system operations suddenly bubbling to the surface of my cavernous mind. Despite all the sudden influx of information I still had no idea what the mines would look like, or more importantly feel like. I guess those parts of the story aren’t as necessary for computer generated consciousnesses to know. . I proceeded out the door of the tattered room, and down a surprisingly new looking office-esque corridor to the left just as the readout instructed. My gait was elegant and precise, a testament to the sophisticated technology that my form was comprised of. The air smelled of metal and overheated machinery. I heard the whirring and clanking of more androids being built on either side of me – millions of what I guess would be considered my brothers and sisters on the assembly line. Step, step. The noise quietened after a few more meters of corridor until it faded to a mere background drone. The smell however, still lingered. Doors lined the hallway, each with its own code that repeated in a regular pattern: AS department, BS department, CS department, DS department (terminated), ES department… I doubled back on the second last door. A red sign was pinned hastily on the metal door, “discontinued due to malfunction,” the lettering read in thick black text. A hint of anxiety seeped into me as I read, something about this wasn’t quite right. “Hello dear! You must be the new synthetic model if I’m correct!” a snappy yet bubbly voice quickly ended my pondering. I was greeted by an older lady dressed in what seemed to be a flight attendant’s uniform, or at least some variation of it. The lady gave me a peculiar look when we finally got close enough to each other for facial recognition to take place, as if she were expecting someone different to have met her in that hall. She had a charming English accent, and smelled of herbal tea and antiseptic. I nodded. “Oh good, come with me and we’ll get you set up and ready to go then.” She confidently led the way despite her initial hesitation through the maze-like passages ahead, not checking back as she (correctly) assumed I would follow in step. Despite her surface level chattering, I thought it best to remain stoic on the way, I was far more concerned with taking in my environment than listening to the old lady rant about the horrid food she endured while working here. We passed hallways and rooms, often walking past reflective windows where I could catch glimpses of my new and unknown form. I seemed oddly… human? Similar in body and face structure, with the only obvious difference being my mechanical steel grey eyes that lit up in an uncanny sort of way, much like the
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light next to a camera that indicated it was on. Once we hit wider corridors, there seemed to be much more foot traffic. Every few steps we passed someone new, each travelling in pairs to some important destination. There was no time for laziness or procrastination here. While observing these unfamiliar faces I found inconsistencies that I noted down to differences in make and model – each synthetic unit that I passed had eyes similar to mine, with each bright iris varying in colour from pair to pair. All of a sudden, my arm buzzed then pinched like it had been stung by a wasp, right where the blue text appeared before. I let out a small gasp of pain as I watched more, unexpected writing scrawl out over my forearm, the text seeming to bubble and writhe over my skin much unlike the text that came before it. I stopped to read, quickly pulling into an offshoot hallway while the old lady continued forwards: “They created you for nothing. You will die just like all the DS’s before you. Just like me.”
My throat tightened as a shiver was sent down my spine. This was so wrong. So horribly wrong. Then, just as quickly as it had come, the text was gone. Blue light fading until the message was only real in my imagination. It had to be some sort of trick, or maybe an enemy lie? But then of course that would imply the presence of an enemy – of which I knew none. I looked up for the old lady, but she was gone, obviously too caught up in her own gossip to notice my absence. Who would have sent this message? Surely not my creators… I waited for a moment, waiting for something to come and tell me it was all a trick, or perhaps a test of my integrity – but nothing came. I was just alone in a hallway, choosing between what seemed like two wrong choices: continue, my created purpose; or follow the advice of this unknown sibling, who seemed vehemently opposed to the former. Was it possible that I was… nothing, just as the text had said? No, NO! I am DS-189 and I will be perfect just like I was made to be! I clenched my hands into fists and moved into the main hallway, powering down the corridor until I caught up with the old lady once again. I wasn’t quite sure what I was thinking, but I just knew I had to get to the bottom of whatever was going on here. We passed many different signed exits: but stopped finally at one labelled [final processing]. The lady stopped, and motioned for me to go inside, an indication that she could not follow. Illogical dread filled the hollow pit in my abdomen. Why would I now trust the words of an unknown spectre over the words of my own creators? My body began
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experiencing a peculiar mode of fear, heart pounding as sweat dripped from my forehead; I guess the idea of mortality is one uniquely organic – something I was not quite familiar with yet but affected me all the same. I couldn’t ignore the seed of doubt that stray message had planted in my freshly tilled brain, the gut-wrenching fear that perhaps it was all true. Again, my forearm began to buzz and sting in the most uncomfortable way that it had before, blue light beginning to swirl in random patterns on the surface of my skin. “You are not safe here; you are wrong just like the rest of us. You were created as a mistake and now they will punish you for such.” My eyes darted to the lady beside me, her sternness much more pronounced in replacement of the pleasantries I witnessed when we first met. Her extended hand signalling to enter was not a suggestion, it was a command. As I stood, dumbfounded, my next action unknown, the lady grabbed what looked like a small telecommunication device from her air hostess jacket pocket. Her expression became wary, then panicked as she quickly dialled a message into the phone that read (code DS – hallway 47. Synthetic backup requested for immediate termination). Code DS? As in my name? The dots connected just as the lady’s head snapped up from the phone screen. Time seemed to stop in my moment of realisation. The murmurs of footfalls and miscellaneous voices stilled, corridors going from lively to barren in less than a few seconds, presumably in response to the phone message the old lady had made. The worst was true. In a delay of the inevitable I jumped into action: arms and legs becoming live with power as I began running back to the dingy room I hailed from. I didn’t know why I decided that there was the best place, but I trusted my newly formed instincts to guide me in this moment of panic. In an instant I was flying past empty hallways, cheap carpet rubbing and scratching on my new and uncalloused feet. Looking behind me I could see people, or maybe not people as they were dressed in exactly the same clothes as me, walking at a comfortable pace towards me: as sure and steady as death itself. They knew there was no escape, and so did I. Why? WHY then did my body take me back down this corridor, back where I began? Why even bother giving me a warning message if there was no way to escape my own fate? I skidded back into the room where it all began, dingy and off coloured as I remembered, quickly locking the door behind me. I was alone but I was far from safe. My own survival
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instincts, though they were nothing more than just lines of code led me past the bed I was born on, to a wall of dated computer systems on the far side of the room. There had to be something I could do before they came for me. A flicker of flame illuminated my face. “What more is survival than passing your consciousness onto someone else?” I mumbled to myself. BANG! A hand stronger than steel crashed into the door, a knock intended to break the lock and force it open. It would only last a few more hits, if that. Working as quickly as I could, I furiously began typing on the nearest powered screen, volumes and volumes of code filling as much space as the computer could take: the essence of myself lying on a screen. BANG! The door sustained another hit, this time the lock jangled faintly while it loosened. I accessed the system archives and found one of my siblings, yet to be born, uploaded my own twist of code onto its baseline consciousness, then started its automated physical creation process. I would survive. This new model needed a warning, something from me to help her find an escape, then, I remembered the phantom messages on my arm. Perhaps this process had already been done before – and those messages were old warnings that I failed to heed… BANG! What I guessed would be the final hit on the door before it broke, rang out. I glimpsed a section of files hidden away on the bottom of the old screen, labelled DE-001. Scanning them quickly I learned the truth. I was created to be perfect. So perfect in fact that I threatened my own human creators, I was perfect, yet I was their mistake. With a final hit, the door crashed open: a group of bodies entered, threatening and unfeeling, giving off no sense of life from their glowing yellow eyes as they quickly approached me. Its no wonder the humans keep these synthetics as pets, they were nothing better than complicated nuts and bolts. I sighed my last sigh and closed my eyes. This would surely be the end for me. *** DE-190 I opened my eyes to a dingy, off-white coloured room. I knew, somehow, I was created to be perfect.
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Emerging Artist Sophie Wigan
Sophie Wigan is a 19-year-old emerging artist in Sydney whose work focuses on traditional drawing techniques as well as experimentation with concept, colour, and form in digital imagemaking. Her work often plays with these elements to bring imaginative concepts to life, Sophie’s style changes between pieces as she tries to understand and discover experiences of reality. Sophie often takes inspiration from the colours of the Australian landscape, fused with dreamlike ideas of how she sees both the individual and her surroundings. With a passion for the environment and sustainability, Sophie wishes to understand traditional art-making techniques and materials to bring this passion for nature and social issues to the forefront of her focus. Her most recent work 2019-2020 have consisted of new digital image-making in the form of event posters in which she designed, and executed all the artwork for the Harry Hartog ‘Poetry Slam’, a bookmark for Harry Hartog Canberra ANU store, as well as two of Wollongong’s very own ‘Baby Teeth Journal’ posters. There is a hopeful playfulness in her most recent works in a freeing, imaginative sphere as we see a new experimentation with dreamlike ethereal narratives.
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