Grok #2 2016

FREE Issue #2 2016 Published

by Curtin Student Guild

L EST W E FO RG E T? W E ’ V E A L R E A DY FO RG OT T E N K E$ H A , P O P M U S I C A N D T H E R A P E M Y T H O F T H E LYI N G VI C TI M S E V E N D O L L A R WI N E C R ITI C AT H E N A F ESTIVA L : YA S Q U E E N S

Grok#2_2016_Cover.indd 1

30-Mar-16 1:16:32 PM

Student Banking

Join1 today and to say thanks we’ll put $202 into your account.

Bank with a member owned organisation that is focussed on its members and giving back to the university community Our student banking offer incorporates a range of products designed to help you during this exciting time in your life. Join the Bank today and we’ll look after you when you need it the most, now and in the future.

Apply1 today unibank.com.au or 1800 864 864 UniBank is a division of Teachers Mutual Bank Limited ABN 30 087 650 459 AFSL/Australian Credit Licence 238981.

1. Membership eligibility applies to join the Bank. Membership is open to citizens or permanent residents of Australia who are current or retired employees, students and graduates of Australian Universities, or family members of existing members of the Bank. This banking package is available to you if you are a current full time student at any Australian University, and may be withdrawn at any time. Conditions of use – Accounts and access document and Fees and charges brochures are available online or from any of our offices. You should read both of these documents before deciding to open accounts and access facilities issued by Teachers Mutual Bank Limited. Any advice provided here does not take into consideration your objectives, financial situation, or needs, which you should consider before acting on any recommendations. For further information call 1800 864 864 or go to unibank.com.au 2. The Bank will credit an initial $20 into your Everyday account once opened. An additional $20 will be credited into the Everyday account when you make a purchase with your UniBank Visa Debit Card within 28 days of opening your membership. UniBank is a division of Teachers Mutual Bank Limited ABN 30 087 650 459 AFSL/Australian Credit Licence 238981 | 00954P-MAR-UB-0316

Grok#2_2016_Cover.indd 2

30-Mar-16 1:16:33 PM

1.

3-7.

YO U R STUDENT R EPS Catch up on all the goss from around the Guild!

8.

Unprovoked: On-campus assault and why you need to report it

10.

From Where You’d Rather Be: Dubai

12.

17.

Ke$ha, Pop Music and the Rape Myth of the Lying Victim

STUDE NT ASSIST Top 5 Student Predicaments

14.

Ten Things You Need to Know About Your Transgender Friend

18.

16.

ONWARDS

REVIEWS

Fresher's First Week

GIG: Athena Music Festival INTERVIEW: Portland Jones ART: T he Secret Garden FOOD: Yelo ALBUM: Segue Safari - Friends MOVIE: Circle

Issue #2 / 2016

Contact

Contributors

Grok exists for entertainment purposes only. The views expressed therin are not necessarily that of Curtin Student Guild.

Email // grok@guild.curtin.edu.au

Grok would not exist were it not for the generous donation of time and effort of its contributors, to whom we are eternally grateful.

Editor // Caitlin Creeper Art Direction & Design // Rozanna Johnson

Charlie Wood / Rachelle Erzay / Jarod Rhine Davis / Chloe Macri / Stephanie McGann / Jesse Stuart Keddie / Jasmine Uitermark-Thuang / India Bradshaw

Cover // Rozanna Johnson Printed on 100% recycled paper.

#2

Grok #2_2016.indd 1

04-Apr-16 1:44:06 PM

Caitlin Creeper

EDITORIAL

2016 Grok Editor

2.

H I FR I E N DS , I had a great conversation with my friend the other night and I would like to talk about it. Much like the Curtin Confession we were both one week into the Uni grind and already a whole semester behind. She’s doing her honours this year and seems to be under some fixed delusion I’m an acceptable authority on big life decisions and was asking me wether she should stick the year out or bail out, because right then, it was making her miserable. I mean I’m a big fan of the bail out, don’t get me wrong. Friends don’t come to me for relationship advice any more because I just promote breakups. I spend hours on the internet reading stories about people who sell their cars and their couches and their cats and buy oneway tickets to a whole new country to start a new life. I consume that stuff guiltily, in a closed room, late at night so I know I won’t get walked in on, the same way other people consume porn.

But I know my friend, and I know she wants this, and I kind of started thinking that what she wanted wasn’t permission to bail out. She just wanted some spark of inspiration to keep going, to live to fight another day. So I asked her, “what you’re learning at uni right now, do you even want to

learn about it? Are you even curious to find the answers? Or are you just so focused on the end result that you’re slaving your guts out in a miserable stupor and hating every step of the way?’

I mean we’ve all decided we want to do this uni thing. We’re going to be spending a significant chunk of our ‘best years’ (bleugh) doing this thing. Why not at least try tamper with our thinking a bit into deluding ourselves into having a marvellous time even when we’re not? I can feel the collective eye-roll of the non-arts students reading this but hear me out pls.

It sounds pretty far fetched but what if we tried taking it back a few steps? If we forgot the finish line for a minute, forgot that resounding ‘click’ of the Turnitin submit button, even forgot the end of the tute. What if for starters, we just got curious about the thing in front of us? Just curious.

Just for a second to marvel at the fact that you just learnt a thing, a thing you didn’t wake up knowing but have learnt now. That’s pretty cool, like ammunition. Remember how when we were younger, that was like the coolest feeling ever?

“There are things you think you’ll never need to know. That you may only

need to know one time in your life, but that could save your life because you had that knowledge.”

Now knowing that thing, what further questions do you have? Follow that curiosity. Invite it in. Tell it you think it’s cool. Follow that curiosity with fascination instead of beating your brain into submission and dragging it through three-four-five years of torture in a bloody garbage bag.

Curiosity. I truly think that’s the first key. It feels lighter. It feels exciting.

It feels like you’re doing this thing on your own accord, and it’s yours, it looks like you and works for you, it’s not just a cookie cutter stamping you on the production line of every other Uni student. Even though you are learning and doing the same thing, you’ve rejigged it a bit to make it special and yours.

So next time you’re feeling miserable and stressed and just want to fuck the lemons and bail ask yourself, are you even curious about learning this thing? Do you even want to learn about it? Or have you subconsciously built an 8 metre wall of negativity, self doubt and laziness around your brain to which you are now throwing your uni books at it like ‘GET IN’?!

Yeah. That doesn’t work. It makes you think life sucks and life actually

#2

Grok #2_2016.indd 2

04-Apr-16 1:44:06 PM

PREZ

3.

G U I LD P R E S I D E NT Jake Wittey

doesn’t suck. It’s actually really good.

If you’re thinking of quitting right now, don’t worry so much about the about the big picture. Don’t even think about the finished product, the unit, the assignment. Just get curious, for starters. Just start there.

Or alternately, sell your cat and your couch and your car and bail. We’re still relatively fresh in the semester, after all. You just do you.

A real treat for you guys in this issue.

Between “Lest We Forget? We’ve Already Forgotten”, “Ke$ha, Pop Music and the Rape Myth of the Lying Victim” and “Unprovoked” we have some feels trips but some important discussions that need to be had. As well as the comedic genius that is Chloe Macri and her wine/ food/ travel reviews and a swathe of Bitchin’ festival, movie and art show reviews, you’ll be picking up at least something we’re putting down. If not? Maybe the thing missing in Grok is you? Hit me up at grok@guild.curtin.edu.au and maybe we can make some magic!

Until next time: onward.

Love youse.

Caitlin

THR E E WE E KS DOWN! From where I am sitting, things on our end have kicked off with a flying start.

O-Week was absolutely fantastic, and I would like to thank all of those involved for building what was the best O-Week I have experienced in my time at Curtin. We also had Athena Music Festival, which again was another big success (big upps to your Women’s Officers, Activities Vice President and our Member Benefits team). All in all I am confident that if our efforts continue (and don’t worry, they will), your year at Curtin will be 10 out of 10. Anyway, here’s what’s been happening on my end:

PA R K I N G : I am certain that the time it will take me to write this column is at least half as long as it is to find a car park at Curtin at the moment. I think the worst thing about that though is that it’s not even Curtin’s fault – the Town of Victoria Park has capped the number of parking bays that we can have at Curtin. In spite of that, I have been having conversations with the University about not charging for parking during off peak periods.

Things have been dragging on, but

hopefully we can come to some kind of arrangement soon.

FEDER AL E LECTION: It’s likely that the next federal election will occur on July 3rd. This is a pretty big deal for us on our end because it gives us a great opportunity to start a conversation with you guys about what issues are affecting you, and how you can vote in a way that will make a difference. Over the coming weeks, we will be imploring you to enrol to vote, and will be rating the major political parties on their track record or policies on student issues. If you’ve got any thoughts or feels about this, I am all ears, just email me at president@guild.curtin.edu.au

B I K E-S H A R E P R O G R A M : Your Guild has finally launched its bike share program! So far we’ve got 30 bikes available for use on campus, and after my extensive usage of the system, I’ve got to say that I am satisfied. Free memberships are limited so make sure you visit http:// curtinbikeshare.com/ to create an account now!

#2

Grok #2_2016.indd 3

04-Apr-16 1:44:06 PM

vp’s

4.

GENERAL S E C R E TA RY

E D U C AT I O N VICE PR ESIDENT

AC T I V I T I E S VICE PR ESIDENT

Liam O’Neill

Sarah Franz

Jack “Marto” Martin

When I joked about Donald Trump in my previous article I did so with the belief that he’d probably lose the nomination and it would be a fun time.

With it now actually looking like he will be a candidate for President of the US of A the world becomes a scary and dark place, I think I’ll probably invest all my money in gold, that’s what you do when the apocalypse comes right?

Hey everyone and congratulations on making it through your first half of semester one! Hopefully you all had a wonderful break and are ready to get back into it for another few weeks.

2016 has kicked off with a bang - 3 major events in the first 4 weeks of Semester and we’re only just getting warmed up!

In actual serious news I have in all ways except physical become the Guild Regulations which has been unpleasant because I am tired of regulating all day. The first draft of the regulation amendments are finished, the production of which resulted in a 60 hour work week for me, but you know, it’s for the students.

We also are probably, maybe, kinda having a federal election in july, so make sure to like enroll to vote and stuff because not voting is against the law in this authoritarian nanny state that we live in.

If you aren’t already aware, the National Day of Action is rapidly approaching so we’re having a crafternoon! Come down to the guild courtyard on the 30 th of March during common free time and get your craft on and help us get ready to protest the government and say no to fee deregulation, no to cutting staff and courses and yes to fully funded higher education! The NDA will be on the 6 th of April at 1pm in Murry St Mall!

If you have any questions about this or anything else feel free to contact me.

Best, Sarah

Also I spent all the guild’s money on some “Make Curtin Great Again” hats (not really, that would be a LOT of hats)

Toga Party was massive and was filled with plenty of Toga wearing party goers. Athena Music Festival kicked off our plans to revitalise the lawn space for cultural and music festivals throughout this year. Those who attended had a fantastic time and the vibes continued well on into the night.

Special mention to Nicole Millar for stealing the show ;).

Continuing on from Athena music festival Easter Bash was loose as ever with plenty of Easter eggs floating around as well as the drinks. In the coming weeks we have Spring Break at the Tav which is bound to a sell out so get in early with your mates. We have Slice and Dice and J-Heasy from Melbourne heading over to smash the tavern courtyards for you. Keep kicking goals and enjoy the semester ahead !

I love you, General Sexytary #2

Grok #2_2016.indd 4

04-Apr-16 1:44:07 PM

5.

HUMANTITIES FAC U LT Y R E P

Priya Raj

Lewis Whittaker

Hey Guys...

I hope you all are settling in well and parking isn’t getting you too down.

Hi there! I hope you all used your tuition free week productively (wait who am I kidding, we all were lazy AF). This has been an interesting few weeks with both the faculty and the guild. Our start-up and Easter tav parties were a massive hit and Athena Music Festival had a great vibe. I also ran Art Fair just before the week ended, I hope some of you came along!

Once again I want to mention my consult hours, which are Monday 1-3pm this semester. This is a chance to speak to your student rep about any issues or queries you may have about university life. I also have spent far too long here and know some great elective choices if you’re struggling to pick some! If you can’t make it my office, don’t despair, as you can contact me on humanities@guild. curtin.edu.au and I will endeavour to get back to you within 24 hours!

Do you already feel like you’re 6 weeks behind although we’re only in week 5?

Yeah don’t stress, we’ve all been there.

The only solution I can offer (besides changing your name and moving to China), is to attend your lectures because an extra hour of sleep or chill time is cool, but if you go now, you’ll have one less ilecture to watch whilst cramming during exam week!

So now that I’ve shared some of my wisdom, let’s talk about what’s been happening in the commerce circle.

We’ve just had our first Commence fresher BBQ on the 15 th and it was a fantastic event. We also had our first info session about an Entrepreneurial event, run in collaboration with BLOOM, and coming your way in Semester 2.

So until next time, enjoy the good vibes... xoxo Pri Pri

FAC REPS

H E A LT H SCIENCES FAC U LT Y R E P

BUSINESS FAC U LT Y R E P

Kieran Gulvan

It’s four weeks into semester and I’ve already washed a no-doz down with a coffee. To say that it’s off to a good start would just be a little inaccurate.

If you’re making it through the semester without a crippling caffeine dependency, congratulations! Now to some serious business. The academic integrity program has been rolled out, so if you’re new to Curtin, it’s probably a good idea to get that done ASAP to avoid the dire consequences.

Hopefully you’ve all had a fairly good tuition free week, and managed to catch up on all the stuff you missed out on while at the tav. If you’ve noticed anything dodgy in your assignments, or think that stuff in your midsems weren’t covered properly, you can contact me at health@guild.curtin. edu.au and I’ll do my best to follow up on it. Have a good one

Have a good one... Huey Lewis and The News

SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FAC U LT Y R E P

And yet each week at this wonderful establishment, Noni, yours truly, learns something new.

Day by day I discover a new hidden talent.

Example: acrostic poems.

Never will I deny the fact that I Genuinely could have pursued literature studies Instead of a mathematically analytical degree which doesn’t Necessarily make sense if you don’t attend Each and every lecture but Eyyyy I can just watch them all at home on blackboard!

Realistically speaking, maybe it would have been smart If I had spent the tuition free week revising….

Never mind, this week I’ll get on top of everything.

Guaranteed I won’t leave exam study to the last minute.

Noni Hobbs

Study related anxiety, we meet once again.

Curtin Uni. Already half way through Semester 1 and I never in the slightest Envisioned having Not completed an ounce of homework.

Career wise, the future looks grim.

Enjoying education has turned into enjoying gin. #2

Grok #2_2016.indd 5

04-Apr-16 1:44:07 PM

E Q U I T Y D E PA R TM E N T S

6.

I N T E R N AT I O N A L S T U D E N T CO M M I T T E E

WO M E N ’ S D E PA R TM E N T Jayne Kazich & Saraya Martin

Natasha Woenarso Hello again everyone! Over the past few months, I have been recruiting people for the ISC. Below are the successful applicants, shout out if you know them! Also, if you have a particular question, you can just email them. They are friendly bunch of people, they won’t bite!

PUBLICATION OFFICER:

V I C E P R E S I D E N T: Hyo Chan Kim

MARKETING OFFICER:

(isc.vp@guild.curtin.edu.au)

G E N E R A L S E C R E TA RY: Ibrahim Adel Ibrahim (isc@guild.curtin.edu.au)

EDUCATION & WELFARE OFFICER:

Swaraj Nunkoo (isc.publication@guild.curtin.edu.au) Swaraj is looking for photographers, editor, and layout designer to work on Paragon, our very own magazine. If you are keen to be on Paragon Team, get in touch!

Nikhil Gujadhur (isc.marketing@guild.curtin.edu.au)

HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER: Krishna Dabhi (isc.hr@guild.curtin.edu.au)

Ashish Kumer Saha (isc.eduwelfare@guild.curtin.edu.au)

E V E N T S CO O R D I N ATO R :

Stacey Kositany and Irene Veliana (isc.events@guild.curtin.edu.au)

PUB LIC R E L ATIONS OFFICER : Nadine Elmowafy (isc.pr@guild.curtin.edu.au)

Bye now!

PS: follow us on Facebook (https:// www.facebook.com/CurtinISC) to keep up to date with all the activities that we organise on campus.

Top of the day to you feminist pals.

We hope your settling into the semester with limited catastrophes and you’ve made some new friends.

The Women’s Department has hit the ground running in terms of events.

We helped run Athena music festival and donated some of the ticket sales to the Patricia Giles Centre a feminist women’s refuge, if you had a chance to come down to the festival we hope that you had a wonderful time.

We also have a collective meeting coming up on the 6th of April in the Women’s Department (Building 106F).

This would be a great way to make some women friends on campus.

We are planning to talk about how semester is going for everyone and what you would like to see the women department do plus some quality feminist banter. We are super friendly and inclusive. We welcome any women identifying peoples to come along (we are also child/baby friendly if you have kids).

In other news, if you need a quiet place to relax then come and hang out in the department, if the door is locked then you can get the keys from Guild Reception.

#2

Grok #2_2016.indd 6

04-Apr-16 1:44:07 PM

If you are having any issues on campus or in your life generally you are more than welcome to come and have a chat or email us women@guild.curtin.edu. au or call 9266 3386 We hope your day is dude-bro free!

Xoxo Jayne & Saraya

I N DIGE NOUS DE PAR TM E NT Madison Ludwig & Sharleah Ramirez

M AT U R E AG E D E PA R TM E N T Jordan Piggott Hey Folks!

It’s your friendly Mature Age Rep here, and I want YOU! I’m super-keen to kick of a social and networking calendar for the year, I’m just seeking your brilliant thoughts and ideas into what you want from your guild!

I’d love to hear your suggestions, gauge your enthusiasm and find out how you’re going here at Curtin, so please feel free to come say G’day or flick me an email at mature@guild. curtin.edu.au

Since O-Day, we have been focussing on engaging Indigenous students with the Guild, as well as with on campus events. We have been attending Graduation Ceremonies at the Centre of Aboriginal Studies (CAS) and have generally been getting our names and faces out there, so that students like you can recognise who we are and what we are here to do! We are now getting into action organising Indigenous University Games and organising fun and interactive events for Indigenous and non-Indigenous students on campus such as ‘Yokai’. We are at CAS from 12-2 each Wednesday and at the Guild from 1-3pm each Thursday, so feel free to drop in for a chat during these times to ask about how you can get involved with any upcoming events! We are more than happy to help out all Indigenous Students, as well as non-Indigenous students who want to learn more or ask any questions!

Don’t be shame, be game!

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES DEPARTMENT Joshua Mackenzie With semester well underway I’m pleased to report that the Students with Disabilities Department is making quiet progress towards making University an easier time for students with Disabilities. One of the ideas that I’m working on implementing is having Curtin’s Disability Services brief each faculty at the start of semester on which students have a current Curtin Access Plan within the faculty, so your unit coordinators are aware & can begin making accommodations at the start of semester & not 3 days before exams. So far the support for this has been good, with support services, the VP of corporate relations & even the Provost having signed off on it & is currently being implemented.

I’m interested in hearing everyones thoughts on this, so if you have any feedback or thoughts please let me know. As always I can be reached at disabilities@guild.curtin.edu.au & our work in progress of a Facebook group is: https://www.facebook. com/groups/CurtinDisabilities/ or in person in Building 106F.

EQUITY DEPARTMENTS

7.

I hope your semester has started well, and I look forward to hearing from you all!

#2

Grok #2_2016.indd 7

04-Apr-16 1:44:07 PM

8.

U N PR OVO KE D: O N - C A M PUS ASSAU LT AN D WHY YOU N E E D TO R E P O R T IT

I was walking on-campus with a friend at night and stopped to talk to some guys we met a few days before.

They were just finishing up a party they'd had. The group shrunk to us and two guys and there was nobody else around. They offered me a drink and I politely said no. At first I thought they were friendly and playful; they chased me down the path and I stopped to check on my friend who was somewhere behind us. I should have kept running.

Charlie Wood*

Something hit my leg, a thick branch. I laughed with them because they were smiling and it only hurt a little. But then he swung again and again. The swings got harder, eventually higher.

He swung for my head. I blocked it, asking him to stop. I let go and pushed the branch out of my way and tried to walk past him but he blocked my path. When I swerved to get around he grabbed my legs and I tumbled to the ground. Each time I tried to get up he pushed me back down, until I was on my back and he was sitting on top of me holding me there. He called his friend over and they poured the drink I refused on my face. I thought it was over.

He stood up but still over me and I had to crawl between his legs to get up.

No sooner was I standing was I back

* name ha s been changed but wr iter is known to editor #2

Grok #2_2016.indd 8

04-Apr-16 1:44:08 PM

9.

on the ground facing another swing to the head.

This is an article for anyone who has experienced assault on campus but are reluctant to report. I did, and I can't stress enough how well it was handled by Curtin once I did.

Too often assault on-campus goes unreported. Shoved under the "it happens all the time" rug because "we're at university" and "shit happens." In fact, many people are of the cruel assumption that if you follow the 'rules' you won't get hurt, and if you don't follow the rules - then it's your fault.

The remarks and opinions from people who had heard small details of what had happened to me were worse than the attack. I started second guessing myself when someone said I had "overreacted". I was told by another friend that I should feel guilty and that I should take a walk in his shoes before I "ruin his life". I remember thinking the physical pain of the assault was easier because bruises fade; mental scars never go away.

Contrary to popular belief the steps I took were never to "seek revenge" or gain any kind of justice on my behalf; it was to protect the future victims who cross the attacker's path.

I actually did feel guilty for some time after reporting it. It's my goal now by writing this article that I can help others to speak out and report their attacks to the University.

H OW C U R T I N U N I V E R S I T Y HE LPS VICTIMS OF A S S AU LT: It was difficult alerting the University to what happened but their reaction was immediate and very caring.

Curtin is one of the Universities that actually do a lot to help their students in these situations. If it goes far enough there is a process where you may have to attend a small panel and explain what happened, but it is just part of their procedure and nothing to worry about. Here is what I learned from my experience.

W H AT TO D O I M M E D I AT E LY: • CALL THE CURTIN UNIVERSITY SECURITY TEAM STRAIGHT AWAY ON

08 9266 4444

• Write everything down as soon as you have a chance in as much detail as possible. The longer you leave it the more your memory will change/ facts will be forgotten.

SERVICES THEY OFFER : • Counselling. I benefited so much from talking to someone that wasn't involved that could help me understand how I was feeling and find ways to overcome it.

• Safe Zone app. Download it now. It has the ability for you to 'check in' if you feel unsafe and it can locate you.

There are also buttons for First Aid, Help, and Emergency, that will put you directly through to the person you need.

• Security. You can call security if you feel unsafe walking around campus alone at night and they will escort you.

Self • defence classes.

Curtin Experiences offer self defence classes at the stadium that I highly recommend. It was a lot of fun and I learned a lot about how to protect myself and get away.

I felt I had so much support from the University and because I accepted all of the services they offered, it helped me heal much faster. You don’t have to go through this alone. Some people don't speak up for many different reasons; sometimes we think that if we don't talk about it, it will go away.

That is the biggest lie you can tell yourself and I am telling you now:

You are worthy of feeling safe. You are valuable. Don’t let anyone ever tell you otherwise. If this or something similar happens to you, report it. If not for yourself, for the next person you might be protecting.

#2

Grok #2_2016.indd 9

04-Apr-16 1:44:08 PM

10.

10.

FR OM WH E R E YOU ’ D R ATH E R B E : DU BAI , U N ITE D AR AB E M I R ATE S Chloe Macri

Do you like big things? Then go to Dubai. Everything in Dubai is bigger and better than everywhere else. They made it that way. It’s like nowhere else. Big buildings, big malls, lots of money, lots of gold, lots of fancy things and nice cars. Dubai is showing off and the world is listening.

#2

Grok #2_2016.indd 10

04-Apr-16 1:44:08 PM

11.

11.

W H AT E V E N I S D U B A I ?

A lot of people think of Dubai as a deserted stop-over location; an isolated landing zone in the middle of the desert. And for many years, this was the extent of the Western World’s interaction with this part of the world. But now Dubai is making a name for itself as a major tourist destination player. It’s no longer seen as a deserted airport, but as a big city with plenty to offer and plenty to see and do.

This may surprise you but Dubai is not a country; it is a city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE is made up of seven Emirates, all different and fairly new. The country as it is now with seven Emirates was established in December 1971, so it’s fairly new.

The history of this country is really interesting. You should look it up.

THINGS YOU’ LL WANT TO SEE The Burj Khalifa is the tallest manmade building in the world, at 828m high. It was inspired by a flower found in only in the Dubai desert, Hymenocallis. The building is a national icon and an icon for buildings all over the world.

Dubai is hugely touristy, therefore the culture has evolved to incorporate a higher, luxury and entertainment standard of living into the events and attractions available in the city. Popular sporting events and extravagant shopping centres are examples of the city’s ability to attract visitors to the country in its own right. The Dubai Mall is a mall like no other. The largest mall in the world, based on its total area of 1,124,000m2, it boasts 1,200 shops,

including the world’s largest sweet shop “Candylicious”. The mall even has a real life, fossilised dinosaur, and a big one at that. Even if shopping isn’t your thing, its indoor aquarium, gold souks and dinosaur is kinda enough reason to go.

If you have the time and are able then get out of Dubai! And I don’t just mean go into the desert for a few hours while you do your obligatory ‘Sex and the City’ camel ride (though you should still do that, it’s pretty awesome). Try and get to some of the other Emirates. Fujairah is along the coast and to get there from Dubai entails a drive through both the desert and the mountains, making for some really cool views.

T H E P E O P L E A N D C U LT U R E

The Emirati people are beautiful people. Many of the older generation are still adapting to the rapid development that the country and more specifically Dubai underwent in the recent past. It is a major change to what many of these people have grown up to and so there is a major difference in the older generation and younger people growing up in the opulent and energetic city and country today. The culture is heavily based on Arabian culture, with influences from Persia, India and East Africa.

H OT T I P S B E FO R E YO U G O

The dress code in the UAE and Dubai is not like that of Perth. They have standards and in some emirates, very strict standards which, if broken, could at worst result in jail time and at the very least could make you feel awkward and uncomfortable. In Dubai

there is a huge Western presence and lifestyle influence so the dress standards for both men and moreso women, are not as strict. But in some of the stricter or traditional Emirates, wearing revealing or tight clothing, low neck tops or tops that don’t cover your shoulders or arms and shorts or short skirts may not be socially acceptable. Females may even be required to cover their hair, although this is most likely to only occur if you are walking past or entering a sacred place or mosque. It may be a good idea to keep a head scarf in your bag, in case you need to use it; it is much better to be respectful. Know where you’re going and what you’re visiting and remember, the weather is often very hot, so take this into consideration before you pack.

The main religion in the UAE is Islam.

Five times a day, whether in the city or out in other emirates, you may hear the call to prayer. This rings out through the city through speakers on the mosques and is the call for Muslims to take time for prayer.

The weekend in the UAE is Friday and Saturday. This is because Friday is a holy day for Muslims and the Western world starts the weekend on Saturday.

And one final note. There is a massive class division in the UAE and it won’t take you long to realise this. The extreme division between opulence vs slums is a hugely obvious part of the society.

So on that note, have fun, be safe and enjoy the extravagant show of wealth that is Dubai.

#2

Grok #2_2016.indd 11

04-Apr-16 1:44:08 PM

12.

KE $ HA , P O P MUS IC AN D TH E R APE MY TH OF TH E LYI NG VIC TI M Rachelle Erzay YO U ’ D H AV E T H O U G H T T H E N E X T T I M E YO U ’ D B E H E A R I N G K E $ H A’ S N A M E WO U L D B E B E C AU S E S H E ’ S A B O U T TO D R O P A B A N G I N ’ N E W A L B U M , A N D N OT B E C AU S E S H E ’ S LO S T O N E O F T H E M A N Y B AT T L E S TO CO M E I N H E R F I G H T FO R E M OT I O N A L A N D E CO N O M I C ‘ F R E E D O M ’.

turn a contract negotiation into something so horrendous and untrue… But I feel confident when this is over the lies will be exposed and the truth will prevail.”

The part of the story that we have been hearing about is only one small piece in the ongoing case. On 19th February, Supreme Court Judge Shirley Kornreich denied Kesha’s request for a preliminary injunction, which would have allowed her to immediately end her contract with Gottwald and Sony. It was denied due to fact the multi-million dollar contract is considered ‘typical’ for the industry, and because Sony has allowed Kesha to work with another producer until her contract is up.

Since February 19th, her case has been blasted all over the news and social media, but it was the truly awful image captured of Kesha, agonised and broken in court, which really hit home.

In Forbes magazine, it was detailed Kesha Serbert filed a lawsuit against her producer Dr Luke, aka Lukasz Gottwald, and Sony in 2014, claiming “sexual assault and battery, sexual harassment, gender violence, civil harassment, unfair business, and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.” She says she was only 18 years old when Gottwald first sexually assaulted her, and from there, she paints a tormented decade long picture of a series of emotional abuses that inflicted irreparable harm on her mental and physical state. Since filing the case, she has been unable to record or distribute her music outside of the contract, which binds her to her alleged abuser for six more albums, leaving her in a harrowing state of career limbo.

In the eyes of the law, the verdict to reject Kesha’s injunction from Kemosabe stands strong; since at this point contract trumps claims. However, over the past few weeks, many have aired their frustration at the unfairness of her situation. In a powerful post on Facebook, Rory Banwell articulated a point about our society that fails to recognise and change the treatment of rape victims; “women who claim that wealthy men, or men in positions of power, have abused them are often labelled as gold diggers or it is insinuated that there is some kind of ulterior motive, other than justice, for speaking out… the character of the victim is often what is being disputed, rather than discussion around the actual allegations.”

In response, Gottwald and Sony filed their own suit against Kesha, her mother Pebe, and her manager Jack Rovner, for extortion and defamation, and since the case began, he has maintained his innocence. Through a series of recent tweets he defended himself to the public by releasing images of past legal documents detailing a personal account spoken under oath by Kesha in 2011, which denies all questions regarding whether Gottwald sexually assaulted her. He wrote; “It’s sad that she would

Kesha’s case is a prime example of our societies inherent flaws when it comes to women speaking out about their abuse. Lawyer and Fox News commentator Susan Estrich told the ABC “the myth of the lying women is the most powerful myth in the tradition of rape law.” But despite the constant victim blaming that seems to colour these cases, it is only between 2 and 3 percent of sexual assault accusations that turn out to be false. What is even more alarming is the fact it was found by Kathy Mack that “in the select cases that make it to trial, conviction is rare, #2

Grok #2_2016.indd 12

04-Apr-16 1:44:08 PM

13.

particularly where the victim and perpetrator know each other and there is no injury beyond the rape.” So, it’s just by reviewing Kesha’s case, you can begin to understand why women are afraid to voice their experiences.

But while the outpouring of support has been outstanding, it may be possible the tidal wave of the twittersphere outcry may do more harm than good. While the case is unique, it is not rare, and the outrage expressed from the public should be focused on a whole range of cases and women rather than just one public profile.

Chris Selley makes an interesting point in his article discussing ‘twitter justice’ in sexual assault cases. He says that “the well-meaning progressive mantra today is to “believe the victims” of sexual assault, in hopes more of them will draw the considerable courage necessary to come forward…[and] it invites us to broadcast that belief.”

However, broadcasting that belief through an army of twittersphere soldiers, may do more harm than good. “If we all started doing that for every trial that made the news, declining to do it for one trial or another might, in fact, become an insult to the accuser and a disincentive to other victims coming forward.” The twittersphere, although meaning well, has seemingly singled out Kesha’s case, instead of rallying for support in ALL rape cases. We need to be critical of the fact that Taylor Swift isn’t going to hand out $250k to all the other victims of abusive crimes, and we must ask ourselves how this might effect other women who are struggling to speak out about their own experiences.

Kesha’s case is only one of many that has reinforced the notion that our culture is built on a mindset that is harmful to rape victims. But despite the possible negative effects of such a loud response from the public, the outpouring of support and outrage against our current way of thinking is a small step towards taking down the negative processes that dictate our society. #2

Grok #2_2016.indd 13

04-Apr-16 1:44:08 PM

14.

Whether you identify as transgender, have a friend who is transgender (bear in mind you may be friends with someone who is transgender but not know it) here’s a list of things you need to know: 1 . USE THEIR PR EFER R ED PRONOUNS If your friend has come out as trans, ask them what are their preferred pronouns. There are plenty of gender diverse individuals who may not identify with just one gender so they may prefer a gender neutral pronoun like they/their/them.

If you are ever unsure, just ask.

2 . R E S PEC T TH E I R DECIS I O N TO TR ANS ITI O N

10 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR TR ANSGENDER FRIEND

This is not a spur-of-the-moment decision where they woke up and decided they wanted to be a different gender. It took me most of my life to realise that I was transgender and not a lesbian. Transitioning is not a trend/fad.

It is our road to freedom to be who we are and live a life where we are happy.

3 . D O N OT A S K A B O U T T H E I R G E N I TA L S

Vern Tee

You wouldn’t ask someone you just met or a random stranger about what’s in their pants would you? So why would you ask me if I have a penis after you know that I’m trans?

While some trans people are open about their bodies, most are not. If you really had to ask, be sure to do it in a private conversation instead of going straight to the question about genitals.

#2

Grok #2_2016.indd 14

04-Apr-16 1:44:08 PM

15.

4 . D O N OT A S K A B O U T H OW THEY DO IT IN B ED

And people are constantly telling you what you should or shouldn’t do just because of what’s in your pants. It would feel like you’re drowning and no one can save you.

Again... you wouldn’t ask how someone you barely know how they have sex, so why would you ask us that? All you need to know is yes, we can perform in bed.

Being transgender is NOT a mental illness. Society’s view of transgender people as abnormal is the source of the mental illness.

5 . AVO I D S AY I N G “ B U T YO U W E R E S O H A N D S O M E / P R E T T Y A S A B OY/G I R L”

9. T H E Y C A N B E R E L I G I O U S TO O

It doesn’t matter if it’s a compliment – what you’re doing is intentionally misgendering someone.

Just because we’re trans doesn’t mean we don’t believe in God. Religion is between you and God – not between you and the people who go to church/temple/mosque or other places of worship.

6 . D O N OT O U T T H E M A S T R A N S TO OT H E R P E O P L E

For example in Christianity, I’ve been told that God is against homosexuality because it’s written in the Bible.

The Bible also says you can’t eat shellfish, work on Sundays and let’s not forget sex before marriage.

I’ve got friends who have been revealing that I’m trans to others – which I do not mind if it was brought up during conversations about the LGBT community. Correcting people when they refer to me as he by saying “Oh, she’s not a he, but she is transitioning to become male” is COMPLETELY NOT OKAY.

If you are going to throw religious rules at me, please be sure that you follow EVERYTHING the Bible says. I’m sorry but religion is not about being able to pick and choose what works for you.

There are trans people who choose to go ‘stealth’ because they live in fear of being a victim of violence.

So, don’t out your friend unless you’ve asked for their consent first.

If you insist on choosing what you practice, why don’t you choose the rules that spread love and kindness instead?

7. T H E Y A R E T H E S A M E P E R S O N A S B E FO R E T H E Y T R A N S I T I O N E D

1 0. T H E Y A R E N OT O U T TO

“ CO N V E R T ” P E O P L E

While our appearance and pronouns may change, we’re the same person on the inside. Our appearance is only changing to match who we have been all along.

No, we do not want to “turn” you into a man/woman.

Our lives are not easy – you do not know how badly we wish we were born in the “right” body. So why would we want to put you through that?

8 . M O S T T R A N S P E O P L E H AV E E X P E R I E N C E D A N X I E T Y A N D/O R DEPRESSION

And it’s OUR journey. It’s OUR life. We would love to have supportive family and friends in it. We would be happy to educate you and increase awareness for transgender people but we are NOT out to get people to “join the club”.

It’s not easy being trans. There are people who live in fear of not only violence but also sexual assault. Imagine being constantly worried that every time you enter a public toilet you may get insulted, yelled at, assaulted or even raped. Scary isn’t it? #2

Grok #2_2016.indd 15

04-Apr-16 1:44:08 PM

16.

Rolling out of bed at 8am, throwing on the same clothes I’d had on all week and hopping into Mum’s car with my packed lunch seemed extremely easy in comparison to this morning’s affairs. Already, without any assignments or pressures, Uni was beginning to feel slightly laborious.

A little demon dressed as Ronald McDonald was sat on my shoulder, whispering that I could just quit, get a nice job in fast food and watch Netflix for the rest of my life. I dismissed his idea and instead trudged my way through Uni - coffee in one hand and phone in the other.

When I got into the lecture and heard about things I’m actually interested in, the pain of waking up before sunrise suddenly felt doable. Yeah, high school was comfortable, but in high school I didn’t get to choose my own path. The thought of compulsory sport and science made me feel not-so-nostalgic, and I began thanking my lucky stars that the only equation I’d have to do today was whether I’d have enough change for a library doughnut, with the most compulsory exercise being the walk back to the bus station.

India Bradshaw

ON MY FI R ST WE E K OF U NI , I GOT LOST AT LE AST FOU R TI M ES . The first time was my own fault. In a bid to look less ‘fresher’ and more ‘experienced University-goer’, I shoved my phone in my back pocket and followed the crowd – soon to realise the campus was actually a lot bigger than I thought. After at least 10 minutes of confident-looking but time-wasting strolling, I plonked myself down on a bench, defeated, and pulled out my phone to open the Lost on Campus App. Testing my navigation skills, I again put my phone away and set off for my destination.

I began to realise how great it felt to finish a lecture and actually want to do the readings for next week. And for the first time since I’d started I only felt one thing: excited.

Look, I know this state of euphoria may not last forever, and I will probably end up dreading pre-readings and extra work just as much as the next person, but right now I am happy. It’s dawned on me just how much I’ve learnt about myself in the past week. I’ve found my drive, I’ve impressed myself with my confidence and abilities, and I’ve been inspired. Yes, this week was really scary. Starting Uni has been one of the scariest and most confronting things I have ever done, but it is scary because it actually means something to me.

Really all attempts at looking less fresh were futile. I’m a petite girl with braces and a face so youthful that, if I told you I was 13, you might just believe me and pass me off as a child genius. Earlier in the morning I had stood glaring at my wardrobe, trying to choose something ‘cool’ to wear… something that screamed I was an intellectual with a purpose and not a complete and utter noob. So, after half an hour of trying really hard to try and not look like I was trying too hard, I landed upon an outfit that I concluded ‘wouldn’t embarrass me too much’. Over the next few days my care factor for outfit would decrease quite rapidly, especially when having to wake up at 5:30am for an 8am lecture.

This week has been full of stresses (is an elevator pass a real thing? Will these people notice if I walk past lost for the fourth time?), and there will be a lot more and larger stresses to come, but it has took me until the end of it to see Uni for what it really is. It’s an amazing and exciting new opportunity that I can not miss just because I am worrying about my outfit or whether someone thinks I’m cool or not.

So what have I learnt from this week? Well, really, that I need to make the god damn most of it.

Standing travel sick and tired on the train, I began looking favourably back on the ‘good old days’ of high school. #2

Grok #2_2016.indd 16

04-Apr-16 1:44:08 PM

17.

Student Assist is the welfare department of the curtin student guild. Simon, juliana, jo-ann, andrew, olivia and onki are there to support all students, postgrad and undergrad, with any personal, welfare or academic issues.

IN THIS ISSUE, THE STUDENT ASSIST TEAM HAVE PUT TOGETHER A LIST OF THE TOP 5 “STUDENTS” WHO COME IN TO SEE THEM. 1 . NEVER CHECKS THEIR OCC

This student misses important information sent via the Official Communication Channel. The sort of information they might miss out on is changes to their course progress such they have been placed on conditional or terminated status or missing important deadlines.

Often the reasons for not checking their OCC is that they are away or they didn’t know it existed and often once they find out they are on terminated status or something similar – they usually visit Student Assist on the last day of submitting their appeal.

To avoid this dilemma – check your OCC’s weekly and don’t be misled by

the subject line- it’s worth reading the whole message.

2 . ‘ B O R R OW S ’ OT H E R P E O P L E S WO R K This student or group of students usually are not familiar with the plagiarism policy or are often in their first year of Uni. They often copy large passages of already published work and use it as their own – often in ignorance.

Make yourself familiar with academic iegrity at Curtin – Check out this link http://academicintegrity.curtin.edu. au/

year or so and isn’t really sure if the course is suitable for them. Factors that influence this state of confusion are the time they have spent in their present course, family or cultural influences or financial issues.

Come see us for an informal chat about which direction to go – we would love to help.

5 . I A M F R U S T R AT E D A N D N OT S U R E W H O TO CO M P L A I N TO

This student has had a few issues with a particular lecturer or faculty and now they have had enough and want to make a complaint.

3. CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT MY PHONE (EVEN DURING EXAMS)

Come to see us for a one-to-one chat and we help you unpack the issues and identify what needs to be done.

This student often is caught with their mobile phone during an exam – even if they only have it on them and aren’t using it.

IS TH IS YOU?

Often this student gets caught and thinks that the situation ends there but really that is only the first step to being accused of ‘general misconduct’.

Before doing your exam just read up on exam protocols and once in there, follow the invigilators instructions.

4. AM I IN THE RIGHT COURSE?

This student has been at Uni for a

If any of these students describe you or you have any other issues such as resume assistance, assessment appeals, course progress etc you would like to talk to us about – please contact Student Assist.

DROP IN AN SEE US IN BLD 106F, OR CALL 08 9266 2900 TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.

#2

Grok #2_2016.indd 17

04-Apr-16 1:44:08 PM

GIG REVIEW

18.

ATH E NA MUS IC FE STIVA L 11 MARCH 2016 - SOUTH EDINBURGH OVAL, CURTIN UNIVERSITY

Stephanie McGann Image: Rami Tawil

The heat may have been relentless, but it didn’t deter punters from descending upon Curtin’s South Edinburgh Oval on Friday, March 11, for Athena Music Festival.

Dubbed the first of its kind in Australia, the festival, which coincided with the week of International Women’s Day, promised to unabashedly champion the feminine. And that it did, with a slew of local and national female-led bands and solo artists treating the ears of those people who welcomed a reprieve from the afternoon sun (and an arguably male-centric music industry) under a collection of tall, shady trees.

Grok #2_2016.indd 18

04-Apr-16 1:44:09 PM

GIG REVIEW

19.

Naomi Robinson and Conor Barton, of Perth duo Mosquito Coast, showcased their brand of languid, 70s-inspired rock that saw them take out last year’s Unearthed High competition. Clearly inspired by Karen O’s effortless drawl, Naomi’s voice warbled comfortably over her jangly guitar lines and a shimmery dose of tambourine. They played to a small, but loyal group that braved the heat to stand sweating at the foot of the stage, while most people listed lazily, beer in-hand, on beanbags in the bar area.

They call it bedroom pop, but GRRL PAL’s sun-dappled electronic fare belongs out in the open where fellow pleasure-seekers can bask in all of its glitchy glory.

Producer Danny K laid down infectious, hip-swinging beats while Jay Le Kat’s pristine vocals cooed and soared among it all. The cosy, ethereal vibe of ‘Suggest’ made way for crisp, driving tracks such as ‘Radar’ and ‘Paradise’. The pair threw in a couple of on-point covers of ‘Hotline Bling’ and SBTRKT’s ‘Wildfire’, which only served to cement their sound that is at once dreamy and filthy.

As the sun sank and shadows grew longer, Abbe May and her band swaggered on stage with that signature prowess we’ve come to expect from the Bunbury-raised musician.

From the first blues-laden track, 2011’s ‘Design Desire’, through to the more recent and funk-influenced tunes off soon-to-be-released album Bitchcraft, she delivered a set filled with hefty guitar licks and lashings of synth. Abbe’s vocals, which swung effortlessly from whispers to growls and back again, showed she is a force to be reckoned with as well as as an evocative and fearless story-teller.

Anything can happen at Tired Lion shows. The local outfit, who recently supported Spiderbait on their 25th Anniversary tour, have been known to indulge in some good old fashioned crowd surfing and to play shirtless on occasion. They were on their best behaviour at Athena, save for some entertaining banter and general merriment.

Such was the band’s allure that they were the first act to

Grok #2_2016.indd 19

successfully draw punters out from behind the over-18s fence and to rouse a mosh pit of sorts. Singer and guitarist Sophie Hopes shredded her vocal chords with brazen ferocity on tracks like ‘Pretend’ and ‘I Don’t Think You Like Me’ off last year’s Figurine EP. Say what you want (and they do) about the band’s obvious grunge influences, Tired Lion are tight as fuck and inherently relatable.

Athena was the only chance you had to catch Nicole Millar in Perth as part of her national tour. And if you weren’t part of the throng that eagerly shook along with her electrogrooves and spectral voice, you missed out on something special. This was music that called for closeness and had friends and lovers draping themselves over and against one another. Having written and performed vocals on Peking Duk’s triple platinum-selling single ‘High’, Nicole performed a gorgeous rendition of the track alongside her captivating solo releases, including new single ‘Tremble’.

The set delivered on enough bass drops to leave the crowd heaving and amped for more.

Asta wasn’t about to let the fancy footwork end there. Her powerhouse of a set kicked off with 2012 hit ‘My Heart Is On Fire’ and traversed an electro-funk deluge with fervour and refreshing humility. Her stripped back rendition of Whitney Houston’s ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ enthralled the already buzzing crowd that sang along with relish.

“Something amazing just happened,” the singer gushed. “I feel like the next eighty years of Christmas presents just came at once.” Then, asserting her sheer command for the stage, Asta launched into her recent hit ‘Dynamite’ with unbridled gusto.

Every ticket to Athena Festival ushered a $1 donation to the Patricia Giles Centre, which offers safe crisis accommodation and counselling for women and children affected by domestic violence.

04-Apr-16 1:44:09 PM

20.

INTERVIEW

WHY CALL IT “SEEING THE ELEPHANT”?

The title comes from the American Civil War term “seeing the elephant” which means to have an experience of such magnitude that it will never be forgotten. The character Frank, when explaining how war changes someone, explains: “…You know, without a doubt, that the world will never, ever be the same place again. You’ve seen the elephant and it’s big, so big it can block out the sun forever”.

LEST WE FORGET? WE’VE ALREADY FORGOTTEN.

WHAT MAKES THIS SUBJECT SO INTERESTING TO YOU?

I wrote about war because it terrifies me as a human being and especially as a mother. Once you have loved a child you can’t help but see the world as a place that’s populated by other people’s children. Each life becomes as precious, fragile and loved as any new born. I think we need to start seeing soldiers less as a political tool and more as someone else’s child, sibling, lover, or best friend. It should be a matter of national urgency to ensure that their lives are fulfilling and healthy once they return. Not many people know that veterans have a suicide rate three times higher than the rest of the population. I wrote Seeing the Elephant because we are taught “lest we forget”, but I think we do, indeed, forget. And I think that’s a problem.

Jarod Rhine-Davis

On a family holiday ex-Curtin student and author Portland Jones got to talking with an elderly man who gifted her with his honest experiences of Vietnam, PTSD and suicidal ideation.

“He explained he’d since acquired cancer and the doctors had given him low odds of making it to Christmas. This was July,” she tells Grok.

AS YOUR FIRST NOVEL, WHAT HAS THE PROCESS BEEN LIKE?

“When he drove off I watched his car dwindle down the highway and I felt very strongly that I needed to do something to record that; to bear witness in some way and keep the stories alive.”

I started researching due to my growing interest in Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War –alongside working and raising a family! I experienced extreme cognitive dissonance, standing in the playground watching children play and thinking about Post Traumatic Stress, Ho Chi Minh and land mines. I spent about a year researching before I began writing. Documentaries, interviews, trips to Vietnam. Basically trying to understand as much as I could about the country, the war and Australia’s role in that. Later, my very dear novelist friend and mentor, Richard Rossiter suggested I submit my manuscript to Margaret River Press. They liked it and agreed to let me work with Richard on the edits. The publicity circuit side has been relatively easy and quite fun. My novel was shortlisted for the 2014 Tag Hungerford Award, and I got to have breakfast with the mayor and meet a load of lovely people.

And that’s what her new book Seeing The Elephant is.

Here she talks to Grok’s Jarod Rhine-Davis about her own emotional rollercoaster in researching and writing the book, and why there’s so much more we need to be doing for returned soldiers.

IT’S A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU PORTLAND. CAN YOU GIVE US A QUICK SNAPSHOT OF WHO YOU ARE?

I’m a horse trainer and I own and run a horse training business with my partner, Sophie, in the Swan Valley. I was born about a thousand years ago (1970) in Perth and I have three very cool children - though I might be a bit biased. I now do a bit of lecturing at Murdoch University in equine behaviour, blog about various things, and in my spare time I write. [Portland also did an undergraduate degree at Curtin straight after high school]. #2

Grok #2_2016.indd 20

04-Apr-16 1:44:09 PM

ART REVIEW

21.

NATHALIE DJURBERG & HANS BERG:

THE SECRET GARDEN 11TH FEB – 24TH APRIL PICA - CULTURAL CENTRE, NORTHBRIDGE

Rachel Erzay

and sunset, between reality and the imagined, between pleasure and pain.

Swedish artists Nathalie Djurberg and Hans Berg come together to create The Secret Garden (2015), an exciting animation/installation that acts as a playground for the imagination and dazzles the senses. Although benign on first look, the piece dives headfirst into the human psyche with alluring animation and visceral imagery. Dark undertones are woven through the hallucinatory and dreamlike space, which challenge normative binaries and question the human condition.

As you are carried upstairs, you are taken to an animation made up of an array of images that expand and contract to mimic the pattern of your innermost thoughts, desires and narrations. The large, dark room hosts the projected screen and comfy-looking beanbags, where visitors are welcomed to sit and be drawn in by the morphing lines and shapes. The images take on a natural flow of progression and teamed with Berg’s techno-beat music, a sense of anxiety weaves itself through the room. At the mercy of your mind, you are taken on a rollercoaster of sight, sound and vibration, induced by sensual waves that send your psyche falling into a trance-like calm.

The exhibition is split between floors, which in the bigger picture, seem to act as a progression through the subconscious mind. As the viewer, you are greeted by an almost disturbing clay-mation short film of a dancing rabbit overlooking a neon-lit garden filled by oak leaves, bluebells, melting popsicles, golden dipped acorns and tasseled cushions. The immersive atmosphere is created through a combination of landscape, sculpture, light and sound, and come together in a symphony for the senses.

Heightened by the sheer heat of the exhibition centre, you are drawn into the world of the melting and melted.

The final pieces of the exhibition force you to look through a series of real-world objects to view images of liquid morphing shapes, hidden within. These pots and cauldrons bubble over with their contents, which are sure to leave a lasting impression before taking your leave.

Returning from Djurberg’s immersive world is a shock to the system, but the lingering sound of Berg’s live performance of his futuristic and electronic composition follows you out. The Secret Garden stood out as an installation and fails to disappoint the viewer. Rather than acting as something to be viewed, the exhibition is a tool for the audience to view their own internal workings. Overall, the work only succeeds by how far the viewer is willing to look.

As you move further through the exhibition, you delve into the deeper workings of Djurberg’s netherworld of light and sound. The works become more abstract as she explores a surreal landscape of images that morph and dissolve. Short animations and light graphics of bubbling liquid droplets project themselves over crow sculptures and melted popsicles; two mediums successfully overlapping to create a room that teeters on the boundary between sunrise #2

Grok #2_2016.indd 21

04-Apr-16 1:44:09 PM

WINE REVIEW

22.

S E VE N DO LL AR WI N E CR ITIC Chloe Macri

WA R B U R N E S TAT E , G O S S I P S M O S C ATO Warburn Estate’s Gossips Moscato ‘Sweet Lips’ aside from having a promiscuous name is a highly palatable bubbly drop with just the right amount of sweetness. It is an excellent wine for those that typically aren’t all that fond of grape drank. It has a mild musky aroma roughly half as strong as a ‘fad stick’ with subtle hints of peach and fruitiness.

Warburn estate is one of the top ten producers of wine in Australia and gossips is the fastest growing wine under $7 (self-declared) so it comes from good stock.

A quick look on the Dan Murphys website (our saving grace) shows that this drop is indeed very popular with the masses enjoying an average rating 4.7 out of 5, not quite a perfect 5/7 (google it) but pretty damn close.

Smooth a f flavors with a touch of spritz. This drop is like that agreeable friend that’ll do whatever you tell them – a real people pleaser. This drop has a winning formula that will continue to sway the hearts and livers of people for some time to come and as such I give this wine 4/5 agreeable friends.

A quick note this wine has sulphur dioxide in it and as such it may cause an adverse reaction for an unfortunate minority and is more likely to give everyone a bad hangover, so drink responsibly plz.

#2

Grok #2_2016.indd 22

04-Apr-16 1:44:09 PM

FOOD REVIEW

23.

YE LO

Address: 331 West Coast Drive, Trigg, WA 6029

Chloe Macri FOR: Banana bread, babies and beachside views. Wear your workout gear.

is my all time fave. No room inside? No worries, just walk to the park or the beach which is literally across the road.

If you are a hip and trendy youngish uni student, with bulk coolness and many friends, then you need to get yourself down to Yelo in Trigg. I took some visiting friends there for Australia Day a few months back just to soak up the Australianness and now they don’t want to leave.

Just a word of warning. Every time I go to Yelo, I’ve noticed a bit of a trend; one that I myself can’t really fit into, and each time I’m there it drives me crazy. It may surprise you but Yelo has their fair share of gym and fitness freaks.

Those that run everywhere, never break a sweat and also manage to continue on their way after stopping to consume copious amounts of organic coconut water and ginger tea.

This place is super cool and has such a chilled, beachy vibe.

The kind you’d expect at a café across from the beach, so it ticks that box. The place is always busy. In the mornings, the hip and trendy people of Trigg are there early, stopping in during their morning routines, whether it be walks, yoga or on the way to work. It’s this time of day that’s perfect for a coffee and a plate of banana bread. During the day, the café is filled with retirees catching up for coffee, uni student lunch dates, stay at home mums and those who exercise at all times of the day.

There’s also the uneven ratio problem. The average aged human: dog and baby ratio, that is. It is always uneven and there’s not really anything to combat it. Babies and dogs rule here, it’s just how it is. In saying that, the staff at Yelo know it. They sell organic, delicious dog treats and babycinos by the truck load, of that I am sure. If you don’t have a dog or a baby, why even go here? And if you’re not in attractive gym/beach attire, I’m warning you, you’re going to stand out like a sore thumb. But it’s actually worth the social isolation, especially for the banana bread.

The weekend. Just like everything in the vicinity of the beach, especially in summer, the café is ridiculously busy on the weekends. If you find a parking spot anywhere close, then well done; you’ve earnt any organic, overpriced, gluten free muffins you want to consume. Don’t be surprised to queue out the door or not get a table. It’s busy. On the bright side, the food doesn’t take long and literally everything on the menu is delish. A shout out to the banana bread which

So go to Yelo. It’s cool. It’s beachy. It has good food. It’s expensive but so is everywhere in Perth. Go with dogs and babies and wear gym clothes. You’ll never be cooler. Yelo at Trigg rates 7.5 out of 10 pieces of banana bread. #2

Grok #2_2016.indd 23

04-Apr-16 1:44:09 PM

REVIEWS

24.

ALBUM:

M OV I E :

CI R CLE

SEGUE SAFARI - FRIENDS

Jesse Stuart Keddie

Jasmine Uitermark-Thaung

You wake up in a room. A circle. 50 people. Standing on a red dot. Step off the dot, you die. 49. Touch another person, you die. 48. You try to scream but your voice is strangled under the overwhelming sense of confusion and horror. A voice from a young man ushers quiet and says his piece. The cacophony dies down to a civilised dialogue. For now. Two minutes of talking. A person is suddenly struck dead. 47.

Two minutes of silence. 46.

Immerse yourself into the Perth music scene and you’ll find yourself flooded with a plethora of Lo-Fi bands, harnessing their own unique sound amongst the lilting guitar tones and summery synth licks we’ve grown accustomed to in the past decade. Local band, Segue Safari are just one of these experimental outfits rising up from the dusky depths of our central music venues. The group’s latest EP, Friends, exhibits frontman Jeremy Segal’s wordsmith flair against catchy rock chord progressions and more reverb echo than an UFO makes in an old school sci-fi film.

HELP!! What do we do? Just wait for us to randomly die?

But…wait. What if? Yes! We have the power to vote. We can decide who to kill next. We can survive.

Though each track on the EP differs in composition and influence, the tunes are so well compiled you could picture them skipping down the street hand in hand. Whilst title track ‘Friends’ has me reminiscing those chill post-exam days spent with Seinfeld thanks to the guitar’s easy going tone, ‘Easy Target’ has me envisioning the end scene of a coming-of-age picture before the credits start rolling.

Segal’s vocals just ooze nostalgia amongst the clipping background beat.

After this rather blood-chilling opening, what ensues is eighty whole minutes of human beings talking about who deserves to live and who deserves to die, in arguably the most action-packed and shocking movie I’ve seen. Let the games begin…

What criteria should you base your decision on? What gives you the right to choose? Why are you better than the person you just voted for? Did you just become a murderer?

Could you kill a child? A pregnant woman? Yourself? Are you god-fearing? Well where is your god now?

You’d best be summoning up all your energy to dance to this baby as track four, ‘Coming Out Of Space’ rolls around and hits you like a few too many pints on a boozy night. Short in stamina, the tune kind of peters out in the end to the iconic Lo-Fi fade but if you’re still keen to jam out ‘Where the Clouds Collide’ will endeavour to keep you cruising.

How far would you go to manipulate and manoeuvre your way to the end? And even then, would you be a “winner”?

Knowing what you’d done? Circle asks “Who are you?” and offers answers you may not want to hear, but you really should. #2

Grok #2_2016.indd 24

04-Apr-16 1:44:10 PM

Grok#2_2016_Cover.indd 3

30-Mar-16 1:16:34 PM

Grok#2_2016_Cover.indd 4

30-Mar-16 1:16:35 PM